Western rock lobster (WRL) is important to Western Australia as our biggest commercial fishery and for the economic value it generates through both the commercial and recreational sectors.
Our unique crayfish species brings enjoyment to recreational fishers and seafood lovers alike.
Annual surveys of WRL recreational catches have been completed since 1986/87 to capture fishing effort information. Survey techniques have evolved from mail surveys to phone and boat ramp surveys for licensed fishers, and mandatory logbooks for charter operators.
Two new reports are now available that describe the multiple survey methods used to monitor the recreational WRL fishery, which have been adapted over time as changes to sustainability and management regulations have also occurred.
These research reports indicate that while there has been an increasing trend in recreational fishing effort and catches in recent years, recreational catches have been within the sector’s allocation of Total Allowable Catch. The WRL fishery was the first in WA to be managed under a resource allocation process, with the recreational sector allocated 5% of the Allowable Harvest Level and the commercial sector allocated 95%.
Recreational fishing for WRL occurs predominantly on the West Coast and is managed under fisheries regulations, with a mixture of controls. Along with the requirement for recreational fishers to have a licence, the fishery is also managed with measures, such as bag and size limits, which have been adapted throughout the years in response to fluctuations in the resource and sustainable management of the fishery.
DPIRD’s Principal Management Officer for Rock Lobster, Rebecca Oliver said annual surveys have been conducted over 35 years to estimate participation, fishing effort and catches of WRL retained by WA’s recreational fishers.
“Under our management strategy, there is an ongoing need for estimates of recreational catch to monitor the formal resource sharing arrangement between the commercial and recreational sectors, and to ensure the sustainable management of the fishery,” Ms Oliver said.
“In the 2020/21 financial year 56,362 recreational rock lobster fishing licences were issued, which attests to its ongoing popularity, and more than 50,000 licences have been issued annually in the past six years. “We really do appreciate the support of recreational fishers who’ve participated in our annual surveys, which use a best practice approach to ensure the research data is accurate”.