Rock lobster fishery

Restrictions due to AVG

Rock lobster fishing is now allowed throughout the Southern Rock Lobster Zone, including the Control Area, in depths of 30 metres and greater. In the remaining Control Area between Carpenter Rocks and the Victorian border, fishing in depths of less than 30 metres is not permitted.

Find out more

The South Australian rock lobster fishery is based on the capture of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii). Other species are permitted to be landed and sold, including giant crabs and octopus.

Rock lobsters are commercially harvested with pots that are set overnight. Rock lobster licence holders may also harvest marine scalefish as endorsed on their licence.

Fishery zones

The rock lobster fishery is separated into 2 zones:

  • Southern zone: all marine waters between the mouth of the Murray River and the Victorian border
  • Northern zone: all marine waters between the mouth of the Murray River and the Western Australian border.

Licensing

There are no new licences available for the rock lobster fishery.

Expiry

Rock lobster fishery licences are issued for the term of the management plan. The current management plan for the southern zone is effective to 2030, and the management plan for the northern zone is effective to 2031.

Fees

Commercial licence fees must be paid each financial year. Invoices are issued annually in June and payments can be made:

  • up-front
  • in a lump sum
  • in quarterly instalments.

Licence transfer

Licences can be transferred from one person to another. See the forms below for more information:

Boat registration and de-registration

Every boat that is used for commercial fishing must be registered. Use these forms to register or de-register a boat:

Boat master registration

All people who act as a commercial fishing boat master must be registered by the licence holder. Multiple boat masters can be registered using the form Application to change registration of a master (PDF 188.7 KB).

Quota transfer

Licence holders can transfer their quota entitlements to another licence holder. Transfers can be temporary or permanent. See the forms below for more information:

eCatch (digital reporting)

Southern zone rock lobster fishers are required to digitally report their catch via the Deckhand app or directly into eCatch through your myPIRSA account.

eCatch is also used to:

  • access quota balance statements
  • submit online quota transfers
  • edit pending or inaccurate digital reports.

More information:

Fishery management

The rock lobster fishery is regulated by:

Management plans for each zone of the fishery have arrangements such as the harvest strategy:

Other management arrangements include:

  • a total allowable commercial catch quota
  • minimum legal size limits
  • restrictions on taking females carrying eggs
  • closed seasons
  • restrictions on numbers allowed
  • escape gaps and sea lion exclusion devices on some pots
  • northern zone rock lobster fishery licence holders are required to have an operation vessel monitoring system (VMS) fitted to their boat.

For more information, see Southern zone rock lobster fishery operator user guide (PDF 1.8 MB).

Determinations

Reports

The Australian Government Department of the Environment requires that all commercial fisheries exporting product are assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Product from the rock lobster fishery is currently approved for export – for more information see South Australian managed fisheries.

Closures

See Fishing closures.

Contact

Rock lobster fisheries management
Hamish Telfer – Fisheries Manager
Phone: (08) 8767 2155
Email: hamish.telfer@sa.gov.au

South Australian Rock Lobster Advisory Council
Nathan Kimber – Executive Officer
Phone: (08) 8132 0257
Email: nathan@kimberconsulting.com.au

South Eastern Professional Fishermen's Association Inc
Nathan Kimber – Executive Officer
Phone: (08) 8132 0257
Email: nathan@kimberconsulting.com.au

South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s Association Inc
Kyriakos Toumazos – Executive Officer
Phone: 0402 466 758
Email: kyri.toumazos@hotmail.com

Page last reviewed: 15 Mar 2024

 


Top of page