WA’s $300m lobster industry facing disaster as numbers fall



The State’s $300 million western rock lobster fishery is on the verge of crisis with official monitoring revealing there are almost no baby lobsters in prime fishing locations....



The results have stunned WA’s lucrative lobster fishing industry, which warned yesterday that unless there was a dramatic turnaround in the numbers in the next four months, the 2011-2012 season would be a total disaster.



Department researchers have no idea what has caused the alarming findings and are investigating whether climate change or over-fishing is to blame or if the larvae have settled outside their usual areas....



Other alarming survey results mean below-average catches are expected in coming seasons, with the department forecasting the amount of lobster available to be caught in 2010-11 will fall to 7200 tonnes, the smallest in 40 years and well below the annual average of 11,000 tonnes.

Specially considering the ZERO settlement of WRL puerulus recorded at 4 separate sites for May, June, July AND August 2008

Notes Regarding Latest Puerulus Settlement



Dear Stakeholder



The puerulus settlement during the 2007/08 West Coast Rock Lobster season was the second lowest in the 40 year time series of puerulus collections at Dongara and Jurien. This poor settlement is expected to result in a rock lobster catch of about 7,200 tonnes in the 2010/11 season. The previous lowest puerulus settlement recorded in 1969/70 resulted in a catch of 7,300 tonnes in the 1972/73 season.



While the predicted catches for the 2008/09 and the 2009/10 seasons are expected to be about 8,200 tonnes (after taking into account the recently announced management changes), they will also remain well below the 10-year average of 11,046 tonnes.



The poor puerulus settlement observed during the 2007/08 season is continuing in the settlement period for 2008/09, which began in July. However, unlike the last settlement period, there were some favourable environmental conditions observed in early 2008 (strong Leeuwin Current) that were expected to have given rise to an improved puerulus settlement in 2008/09. Although some environmental conditions observed during this period, such as westerly winds, were not favourable.



While the peak months for puerulus settlement are August to December, it is now likely that the settlement for this season will again be well below average. Further information on the current lobster settlement index can be found of the Department's website by following the link from the front page (www.fish.wa.qov.au) under the "What's new..." heading.



It should be noted that the current overall breeding stock estimates are above the threshold levels and that the management settings already announced for the 2008/09 season will address the low puerulus settlement in 2007/08. However, in light of the recent low puerulus settlement the Department of Fisheries will be reviewing its methodology for estimating the breeding stock.



In addition, the Department of Fisheries has also instigated a process for reviewing research and management priorities, in consultation with the respective Chairs of the Western Rock Lobster Council and the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (RLIAC).



Some of the key outcomes of this process so far include:



1. further development and review of the biological model to take into account factors such as efficiency increases and climate change effects;



2.  submit a project proposal with CSIRO for funding to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation relating to oceanographic modelling to assist in evaluating the effect of breeding stock in different regions and environmental factors on puerulus settlement;



3. expand the current juvenile abundance sampling program to evaluate settlement in shallow and deep water;



4. conduct a research risk assessment workshop on factors affecting puerulus settlement; and



5. assess the fishing effort required to achieve the maximum economic yield for the fishery.



Should this process identify a need for additional targeted effort reductions to further protect breeding stock levels within the 2008/09 season in response to the continued low puerulus settlement it is unlikely that they would include further pot reductions.



Further information on the latest puerulus settlement figures and future management directions will be discussed at the coastal tour. The coastal tour meetings will be held on 28 October in Geraldton, and 30 October in Fremantle. For further information please contact Clinton Syers (Management) or Simon de Lestang (Research).



CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, 24 September 2008