Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2021-22 rock lobster fishery will remain unchanged at 1220.70 tonnes.
This comprises a total allowable commercial catch of 1050.70 tonnes and a total allowable recreational catch of 170 tonnes.
The TAC is set each year following scientific assessment of the stocks by the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies and consultation with peak fishing industry bodies and relevant fisheries advisory committees. The TAC is set at a level to support stock rebuilding around the State.
Our rock lobster fishery is important to our way of life and our economy and we have the capacity to adjust the way we manage it to adapt to changing conditions when needed.
This includes working in collaboration with TARFish, the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council, and the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishermen's Association to ensure a sustainable fishery for future generations.
The Tasmanian Government continues to monitor stock levels on the East Coast through the 10-year stock rebuilding strategy, implemented in 2013 in response to declining rock lobster numbers.
The Department has begun discussions with advisory committees and peak bodies around future strategies for the area, noting the current East Coast stock rebuilding strategy runs until 2023. I encourage all stakeholders to engage with consultation opportunities as they come up.
