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Rec lobster fishing season changes in WA

REC fishers from WA’s South Coast to North West Cape will now have uniform season dates to fish for rock lobster – beginning on 15 October this year.

Since last season, a 15 October start date has applied to recreational rock lobster from North West Cape to Black Point, near Augusta, but from this year licensed fishers on the State’s South Coast and those who fish at the Abrolhos Islands will also be able to fish for rock lobster from 15 October.

Department of Fisheries’ Aquatic Management Director Dr Lindsay Joll said the new date would mean recreational fishers on the South Coast would now have an extra month to fish and the Abrolhos season would begin five months earlier than in the past.

“Recreational rock lobster fishing from the South Coast to North West Cape will have a consistent season of 15 October to 30 June,” Dr Joll said.

“North of North West Cape all lobster species can be fished by recreational lobster fishing licence holders year-round, with other rules such as bag, boat and size limits still applying. The changes to the Abrolhos Islands and south coast seasons are supported by Recfishwest as a means of improving the capacity for recreational fishers to take their 5 per cent catch allocation of western rock lobster and to simplify recreational fishing rules.”

Dr Joll urged recreational fishers to remind themselves of the specific rock lobster rules that applied in the areas they would choose to fish. The rules are summarised in the new Recreational Fishing for Rock Lobster Guide 2014/15 available on the Department of Fisheries’ website.

A copy of the Recreational fishing for rock lobster guide 2014/15 can be downloaded or viewed on the department’s website at www.fish.wa.gov.au or copies can be collected from Department of Fisheries’ offices or Information Outlets around the State.

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