South Australian commercial rock lobster fishers will have greater flexibility to access international markets, following changes to seasonal closures in the state's two southern rock lobster fishing zones.
Premier Peter Malinauskas is announcing the changes to fishers at the 2023 Trans-Tasman Lobster Conference – which is being held in Adelaide for the first time since 2007.
In the Northern Zone, the changes will make the current temporary arrangement permanent, enabling fishing to occur all year round with the new formal arrangement to come into effect from 1 September 2024. The Southern Zone will have an earlier commencement to the fishing season from 1 September 2023. The seasonal start for the Southern Zone has traditionally been 1 October.
This will provide fishers with additional time to catch their allocated quota and better align catch timings and supply with export market demand.
The rock lobster fishery industry contributes over 30 percent ($158.5 million) to South Australia's seafood gross state product and provides more than 1,300 jobs through direct and flow-on business impacts – many of those in regional South Australia.
The Premier will lead a business delegation to China in September, where he will advocate for the easing of trade restrictions impacting the export of the state's live rock lobster to China (previously this made up to 95 percent of the state's rock lobster export market).
In the face of Chinese trade sanctions and the COVID pandemic, the Malinauskas Government eased pressure on the industry by fulfilling its election commitment to reduce licence fees by 50 percent for rock lobster licence holders in 2022–23. These new regulation amendments, requested by industry, will provide further support.
South Australian rock lobster fishing is divided into two zones: Southern, between the mouth of the Murray River and the Victorian border, and Northern, between the mouth of the Murray River and the Western Australian border.
Advice from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) indicates the change in season length does not pose a threat to stock sustainability as both the Southern Zone and Northern Zone rock lobster fisheries are managed under a total allowable commercial catch, meaning no more rock lobster will be taken than is currently allowed as a result of these changes.
The Trans Tasman Lobster Conference is being hosted by the state's Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen's Association and is being held for the first time since the pandemic.