Eastern Rock Lobster

Illustration©R.Swainston/anima.fish

2023/24 Eastern Rock Lobster Status

In Tasmania, the harvest of Eastern Rock Lobster is managed by NRE, Tasmania as part of the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishery. Southern Rock Lobster, which has a higher value at market and is more desirable catch, is the primary target species for fishers with the catch of Eastern Rock Lobster considered a by-product. NRE, Tasmania estimate that Eastern Rock Lobster comprise of 1% of the annual commercial rock lobster catch in Tasmania (NRE, Tasmania). However, accurate measures of eastern rock lobster catch are difficult to obtain as southern rock lobster and eastern rock lobster are not distinguished by commercial fishers, but rather combined catch of both species are reported and count towards quota. Likewise, for recreational fishers, the combined catch of both southern rock lobster and eastern rock lobster are applied to management controls, such as bag limits.

Eastern rock lobster has a distribution from southern Queensland along the eastern coastline to South Australia including around Tasmania. A commercial fishery for eastern rock lobster operates in New South Wales, while commercial lobster fisheries in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia target southern rock lobster. The eastern rock lobster spawning stock is in waters off northern New South Wales (Liggins, 2023). Current understanding is that puerulus (lobster larvae) are transported to south-eastern Australia by the East Australian Current (EAC) where they can settle and grow into adult lobster. Any environmental or economic impacts of eastern rock lobster in south-eastern Australia are unknown. However, as the EAC intensifies in strength under ocean warming the numbers of eastern rock lobster are thought to be increasing.

Details on the current management controls for the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishery is provided on the Department of Natural Resources & Environment (NRE) website at the link: