Western Australia rock lobster

First certified in March 2000, recertified in December 2006 and entered reassessment in October 2010.

Summary

Species:  Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus)
Location:  Coast of Western Australia from Cape Leeuwin to Shark Bay.
Fishing methods:  Baited pots
Number of fisheries:  1

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Download Fishers' stories - Net Benefits 2009 - Western Australia rock lobster (PDF, 200kb)

More about rock lobster

Western rock lobster occurs off the western coast of Australia, with the postlarval stages inhabiting the continental shelf from 1 to 200 metres in depth. The highest densities occur in waters less than 60 metres deep. The species, Panulirus cygnus, is a spiny lobster with long antennae. The older juveniles and adult lobsters (except 'whites') assume a reddish-purple colour with each moult. Its life cycle includes a long oceanic larval stage (about 9 months), 3-6 years juvenile stage in shallow reefs and then become available to fishery.

More about the fishing methods

Lobsters are harvested using baited pots.

Fishery tonnage

5,899 tonnes in 2009

Commercial market

Western Australia rock lobster is the most valuable single-species fishery in Australia, representing about 20% 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. New markets have opened up in Europe.