Queensland’s government has announced that all species of tropical rock lobster will be off limits to fishers from midnight 1 October 2012 until midnight 31 January 2013 in Queensland tidal waters.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district officer Bill Nason said the closure was vital to protect species at vulnerable times in their life cycle, such as during spawning season.
"Closed seasons or regulated waters prevent people from fishing at certain times of the year to protect valuable breeding stock," he said.
Rock lobster closures are in place in Queensland tidal waters north of latitude 14° S, south of Cape York, and east of longitude 142°31´49" E. Also in the Gulf of Carpentaria, shoreward of the 25 n mile line and south of latitude 10°48´ S.
While there is no size limit to tropical rock lobster, a size limit (11.5cm tail minimum, 9cm carapace minimum) applies to painted crayfish (Panulirus ornatus).
