❓ A parliamentary question regarding the impact of relaxed rules on the Western Rock Lobster fishery, specifically concerning large female and setose lobsters, and the government's monitoring and research efforts. The Minister's response indicates confidence in the sustainability of the fishery under the new rules.
AnsweredQoN 768Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN
ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY
768. Hon RICK MAZZA to the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to a Department of Fisheries press release dated 15 January
2015, titled ''Happy new year for commercial rock lobster fishers'',
with reference to the relaxation of rules to allow commercial fishers to take
large female lobsters and to retain setose lobsters on a trial basis from 1 July
to 14 November this year, with an estimated profit improvement of $15 million a
year.
(1) What
monitoring is being conducted on the impact of this trial on the reproductive
capacity of the lobster fishery?
(2) What
research is being carried out on the overall impact on the lobster fishery?
(3) What
modelling has been undertaken on the impact to profit ratio of taking setose
females?
ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY
768. Hon RICK MAZZA to the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to a Department of Fisheries press release dated 15 January
2015, titled ''Happy new year for commercial rock lobster fishers'',
with reference to the relaxation of rules to allow commercial fishers to take
large female lobsters and to retain setose lobsters on a trial basis from 1 July
to 14 November this year, with an estimated profit improvement of $15 million a
year.
(1) What
monitoring is being conducted on the impact of this trial on the reproductive
capacity of the lobster fishery?
(2) What
research is being carried out on the overall impact on the lobster fishery?
(3) What
modelling has been undertaken on the impact to profit ratio of taking setose
females?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Stock
assessment of the western rock lobster resource is subject to a comprehensive
integrated modelling process, which includes data gathered from monthly puerulus settlement
monitoring along the coast, annual breeding stock surveys carried out on at
least seven sites throughout the fishery, and onboard commercial catch
monitoring that includes collection of data on undersized lobsters and spawning
females. Breeding stock throughout the fishery is currently at very high to
record levels. Modelling indicates that removing the maximum legal length for
females and permitting setose lobsters to be taken will not have a significant
impact on the breeding stock, particularly given the conservative catch quota.
(2) Management
of the lobster resource is based on a harvest strategy, the central tenet of
which is to maintain breeding stock across the fishery at a healthy level. The
abovementioned monitoring programs are ongoing in order to ensure that this objective
is met.
(3) A
bio-economic model that combines a stock assessment model with economic data
has been used in this assessment. The suggested increase in profit as a result
of permitting the take of setose lobsters is based on the estimated reduction in
the cost of catching lobsters as a result of fishers being able to retain more
of the lobsters that come up in their pots.
question.
(1) Stock
assessment of the western rock lobster resource is subject to a comprehensive
integrated modelling process, which includes data gathered from monthly puerulus settlement
monitoring along the coast, annual breeding stock surveys carried out on at
least seven sites throughout the fishery, and onboard commercial catch
monitoring that includes collection of data on undersized lobsters and spawning
females. Breeding stock throughout the fishery is currently at very high to
record levels. Modelling indicates that removing the maximum legal length for
females and permitting setose lobsters to be taken will not have a significant
impact on the breeding stock, particularly given the conservative catch quota.
(2) Management
of the lobster resource is based on a harvest strategy, the central tenet of
which is to maintain breeding stock across the fishery at a healthy level. The
abovementioned monitoring programs are ongoing in order to ensure that this objective
is met.
(3) A
bio-economic model that combines a stock assessment model with economic data
has been used in this assessment. The suggested increase in profit as a result
of permitting the take of setose lobsters is based on the estimated reduction in
the cost of catching lobsters as a result of fishers being able to retain more
of the lobsters that come up in their pots.
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