Fisheries Minister Norman Moore today described green groups calling for the closure of Western Australia’s rock lobster industry as irresponsible and ignorant.

Mr Moore was responding to a joint press release issued by the Conservation Council and the WA Wilderness Society which claimed the lobster fishery, valued at up to $400million a year, had collapsed and should be immediately closed.

The conservation groups’ criticisms followed the release of the latest figures from the Department of Fisheries which showed a slight improvement in puerulus (juvenile lobsters) numbers.

“Here are two significant environmental groups - the Conservation Council and the Wilderness Society - saying we should close the State’s commercial rock lobster fishery tomorrow,” the Minister said.

“This demand simply highlights a serious disregard for the livelihoods of workers in a very important industry; ignorance about how the puerulus figures relate to the fishery’s current state; and a simplistic approach to management, at odds with scientific rigour.
“We have two scientists representing these two organisations who want an industry worth $400million to this State to close immediately.

“Imagine the consequences of that for an industry that is going through a significant period of readjustment and changes to fishing practices because of low puerulus counts.

“It is regrettable these groups think it acceptable to peddle claims that the fishery is being mismanaged and to focus on one aspect of it, rather than the fishery in its entirety.”

Moore said his advice from the Department of Fisheries was that there was evidence to suggest the puerulus count was beginning to slowly increase after several years of record low counts.

“It is my hope this increase will continue into the future and we will have an industry that has a long-term future,” he said.

“The State Government has taken a very precautionary approach to this industry and has reduced the catch to 5,500 tonnes for 2009 and the two following years, even though the sustainable catch for this year is estimated to be 6,500 tonnes.

“We have taken the precautionary principle of leaving an extra 1,000 tonnes in the ocean this year, in order to ensure that next year and the year after there are catches of about 5,500 tonnes.

“This will provide an economic return to the industry and demonstrates proper management of this fishery.

“For the Conservation Council and the WA Wilderness Society to claim otherwise demonstrates their ignorance of the way in which this industry and fishery works.”

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