Rock Lobster Catch Restrictions
| Southern zone: | From longitude 139°0’4.80” east to the Victorian border |
| Northern zone: | From longitude 139°0’4.80” west to the West Australian border, including Kangaroo Island) |
Catch Limits and Legal Lengths
Closed Seasons
Closed Areas
Handling Your Catch
Catch Limits and Legal Lengths
| Minimum legal length: | Southern zone (from longitude 139o0’4.80” east to the Victorian border): |  |
| 9.85 cm | ||
| Northern zone (from longitude 139o0’4.80” west to the West Australian border, including Kangaroo Island): | ||
| 10.5 cm | ||
| (Information about how to measure rock lobsters) | ||
| Personal daily bag limit: | A maximum of 4 rock lobster per person per day, regardless of how they are legally taken | |
| Daily boat limit: | If taken by only one person (whether by diving, drop or hoop net, or registered rock lobster pot) a maximum of 4 rock lobster per day. If taken by more than one person, a maximum of 8 rock lobster per day. |
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| Closed seasons: | Southern zone (from longitude 139o0’4.80” east to the Victorian border): | |
| The taking of lobsters from the southern zone is prohibited between 6.00 pm 31 May and 6.00 pm 1 October every year. | ||
| Northern zone (from longitude 139o0’4.80” west to the West Australian border, including Kangaroo Island): | ||
| The taking of lobsters from the northern zone is prohibited between 6.00 pm 31 May and 12 noon 1 November every year. | ||
| Closed areas: |
Rock lobsters are totally protected and cannot be taken at any time from the following areas:
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| Permitted devices: | There are certain restrictions on gear and requirements that need to be met when fishing for rock lobsters. Rock lobster pots must be registered. |
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| Handling your catch: | All rock lobster taken by recreational fishers must have the middle tail fan clipped in half to a recognisable straight line before landing. |
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| Restrictions: |
Female rock lobsters carrying eggs are totally protected and must be returned to the water immediately. |
There is no limit to the number of times pots, drop nets or hoop nets can be checked from the one boat in any one day, provided the owner of the devices, or in the case of rock lobster pots the registered owner, is on board the vessel. But daily bag and boat limits still apply.
How to measure rock lobsters
Rock lobster must be measured:- along the middle and on the top of the carapace (the main body shell)
- from the front edge of the groove between the antennae (frontal tubercule) to the rear edge of the carapace (but not including any hairs attached to the carapace)
The measuring device used must be able to fit firmly into the groove between the antennae.
If you apply to register a rock lobster pot you will be sent a measuring device along with your registration.
Closed seasons
| Southern zone: | The taking of lobsters from the southern zone is prohibited between 6.00 pm 31 May and 6.00 pm 1 October every year. |
| Northern zone: | The taking of lobsters from the northern zone is prohibited between 6.00 pm 31 May and 12 noon 1 November every year. |
In addition, female lobsters carrying eggs are totally protected and must be returned to the water immediately.
Closed areas
Rock lobsters are totally protected and cannot be taken at any time from the following areas:
- Cape Jaffa
- Margaret Brock Reed (within .55 n miles of the light)
- Rivoli Bay including Penguin Island (from Glen Point to Cape Martin)
- Gleeson Landing
- All aquatic reserves
The above areas are rock lobster sanctuaries. You can also contact your local Fisheries office and ask for a copy of these maps.
Restricted area
Fishers are not permitted to use drop nets, crab nets, hoop nets or rock lobster pots from the Port MacDonnell breakwater, or from anywhere within the restricted area.
Handling your catch
All rock lobster taken by recreational fishers must have the middle tail fan clipped in half to a recognisable straight line before landing.
This should be done by using a pair of scissors.
In the past, concerns have been raised about the impact of tail fan clipping on the lobster. A report on The examination of the welfare implications of the management procedure of tail fan clipping concluded that there was insufficient evidence to warrant an abandonment of this procedure, and that there is a benefit to the lobster population as a whole from marking of recreational catches.
Failure to clip the middle tail fan may result in prosecution with a maximum penalty of $2000.
- Page URL: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries/recreational_fishing/target_species/southern_rock_lobster/rock_lobster_catch_restrictions
- Page Last Modified: October 31, 2007