Rock lobster fishery

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:

• Application to transfer a southern zone rock lobster fishery licence ( PDF 256.0 KB )
• Application to transfer a northern zone rock lobster fishery licence ( PDF 273.9 KB )

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:

• Application to vary a boat registration – southern zone rock lobster fishery ( PDF 154.5 KB )
• Application to vary a boat registration – northern zone rock lobster fishery ( PDF 102.3 KB )

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 191.5 KB ).

Quota trading

Licence holders can temporarily or permanently transfer their quota entitlements to another licence holder using the Quota Trading Service or by using the forms below:

• Northern zone rock lobster quota and pot transfer ( PDF 173.9 KB )
• Southern zone rock lobster quota and pot transfer ( PDF 166.9 KB )

Electronic reporting

As of 1 July 2025, licences holders are required to submit their catch and disposal and catch and effort electronically through the Commercial Fishing SA application. Fishers can also access the myPIRSA portal and directly report their catch and disposal and catch and effort electronically into eCatch (Digital Reporting) service.

Northern zone

• Electronic reporting guide for commercial fishing ( PDF 4.5 MB )
• Electronic catch and effort logs – Instructions for use ( PDF 347.1 KB )

Southern zone

• A quick reference guide for accessing online eCatch services using myPIRSA ( DOCX 1.0 MB )
• eCatch reference guide – southern zone rock lobster fishers ( DOCX 1.8 MB )

Fishery management

The rock lobster fishery is regulated by:

• Fisheries Management (Rock Lobster Fishery) Regulations 2017
• Fisheries Management (General) Regulations 2017
• Fisheries Management (Marine Scalefish Fisheries) Regulations 2017
• Fisheries Management (Vessel Monitoring Scheme) Regulations 2017

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

• Management plan for the northern zone rock lobster fishery 2021 ( PDF 793.8 KB )
• Management plan for the southern zone rock lobster fishery 2020 ( PDF 1.4 MB )
• Northern zone rock lobster fishery harvest strategy ( PDF 96.3 KB ) – adopted in 2015
• Southern zone rock lobster fishery harvest strategy ( PDF 99.9 KB ) – adopted in 2015
• Ecologically sustainable development (ESD) risk assessment of rock lobster fishery 2020 ( PDF 573.4 KB ).

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 1.7 MB ).

Determinations

Reports

• Northern zone rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery status report 2023–24 ( PDF 1.1 MB )
• Southern zone rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery status report 2023–24 ( PDF 1.6 MB )
• Northern zone rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery stock assessment 2022–23 ( PDF 1.8 MB )
• Southern zone rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery stock assessment 2022–23 ( PDF 3.3 MB )
• Economic outlook South Australian Commercial Fisheries Reports by BDO Australia

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