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Fishery: Western Australian Rock Lobster Fishery (Panulirus cygnus)
Status:
The certification body, Scientific Certification Inc (SCS) has announced that the Western Australian Rock Lobster Fishery will shortly be undergoing an annual surveillance audit. During the audit, SCS will be speaking with representatives of the fishery, fishery management bodies and other stakeholders of the fishery. Meetings will be carried out over the period 25 March - 4 April 2008 in Perth, Australia.
Please refer to the downloads section for further information.
Last updated: 07 March 2008
Location:
The coast of Western Australia from Cape Leeuwin (34° 24’S) to Shark Bay (24°45’S).
Fishing Method:
Lobsters are harvested using baited pots.
Management:
The WARL fishery has been practising responsible management since 1963 when commercial fishers, processors and the government joined together in an effort to preserve the fishery’s future. The fishery has strict guidelines including seasonal closures, minimum size requirements and a ban on catching breeding females. Data on the fishery has been kept since the 1960s and enables fisheries scientists to predict catches accurately and ensure that controls are adequate to keep the fishery operating at sustainable levels. The fishery is managed primarily through licensing under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. The catch is usually between 10,000-12,000 tonnes.
Fishing Season:
The fishing season runs from November to June.
Main commercial market:
WARL is the most valuable single-species fishery in Australia representing about 20 percent of the total value of Australia’s fisheries. Sales generate about AUS$300- 400 million annually in export to markets including Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, China, USA and new markets have opened up in Europe.
Assessment details:
The initial assessment process took 15 months and the certification was granted in March 2000. Reassessment began in September 2004 and was awarded a certificate of achievement in December 2006.
Client and contact:
Guy Leyland
WA Fishing Industry Council (Inc)
Suite 6, 41 Walters Drive
Osborne Park, WA 6017
Australia
Tel: 61-8-9244-2933
Fax: 61-8-9244-2934
Email : gleyland@wafic.org.au
Certification Body:
Scientific Certification System Inc (SCS)
2200 Powell Street
Suite 725
Emeryville,
CA 94608
U.S.A.
Tel: +1 650 969 1366
Fax: +1 650 969 4731
Contact: Dr Chet Chaffee
Email: chaffe3@attglobal.net
Website: www.scscertified.com
MSC's CEO:
Rupert Howes
Marine Stewardship Council
3rd Floor, Mountbarrow House
6-20 Elizabeth Street
London SW1W 9RB, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7811 3300
Fax: +44 (0)20 7811 3301
Email: Rupert.Howes@msc.org |
