TARFish calls for new deal on rock lobster in East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone

The Minister is set to make a decision on the 2021-22 East Coast catch cap in coming days and the East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone (ECSRZ) is in poor shape. Based on current IMAS predictions, the 20% virgin biomass interim stock rebuilding target will not be met by 2023 without big reductions to the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) or other management controls.

TARFish supports returning the fishery to a safe level but strongly objects to recreational fishers being saddled with more cuts and restrictions.

“The East Coast rock lobster fishery is the most important one to Tasmania’s recreational fishers accounting for 75% of recreational harvest and it’s time for the commercial sector to move their intensive inshore fishing and let recreational fishers catch a rock lobster close to their homes and shacks and in inshore areas where they can do it safely.

“Recreational rock lobster fishers continue to be effectively locked out of access to the East Coast fishery by the grossly unfair allocation we receive,” said TARFish CEO, Jane Gallichan.

“This is a wrong decision that has persisted for a number of years and on behalf of Tasmania’s 20,000 rock lobster fishers, I ask the Minister to change it.