A new management plan for the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery, the State’s largest and most valuable commercial fishery, was published in the Government Gazette on 17 October and will come into force from 15 January 2013.
The plan marks the final step in the move to a full quota management system, continuing the sustainable management of the fishery while also increasing flexibility for commercial operators to allow them to fish according to their individual business needs.
Key changes under the plan include:
- a move from the number of pots that can be used by a fisher to the kilograms of lobsters that can be taken
- a 12 month fishing season for all zones
- allocation of zone B units to zone A fishers
- the introduction of A new online licensing and quota monitoring system (Fish Eye).
More details of the plan.
Read the media release.