Western Australia Fisheries Minister Joe Francis has announced a plan to make rock lobster more accessible to the locals following a visit to the Bluwave processing facilities in Fremantle.
The plan has come in response to local concerns about the availability of the AUS$400million commercial catch of rock lobster in WA, most of which is exported to China at premium prices.
Mr Francis said that the trail which will run from 15 December until 30 April next year, will enable each active commercial western rock lobster fisher to catch 50 extra lobsters which can only be sold directly to the local WA market.
He said: “This will generate about eight tonnes of western rock lobsters for sale in the local market and will not impact on sustainability."
"This trial will maintain the integrity of the commercial and recreational allocations for rock lobster and help provide a summer of seafood over the festive season and into the new year.”
The trial was developed in close collaboration with the Western Rock Lobster Council which represents WA's professional lobster fishers.
Mr Francis said consumers can purchase the local access lobsters at market cost directly from fishers and some may also be available in local restaurants or fish retailers.
To participate in the trial, commercial fishers need to collect ‘Local Access Lobster Tags’ – available from Department of Fisheries’ offices at Mandarah, Fremantle, Hillary’s, Lanceolin, Jurien Bay and Geraldton.
Commercial fishers can find out more about the trial from the Government of Western Australia's Department of Fisheries, including how to insert the tags on their catch and how to record sales of the lobster.
