Just two seasons ago, the catch limit was 183 tons or 67 days of fishing spread over the period 15 November to 15 January and 6 April of the following year to 9 April.
The current proposal confirms that the catch limit will be reduced to 69 tons or 21 days of fishing. The only aspect still up for discussion is the spread of the fishing days. The Department has proposed three possibilities:
Option 1: 21 fishing days
November: 6 fishing days (15 to 16 November / 22 to 23 November / 29 to 30 November)
December: 4 fishing days (20 to 21 December / 27 to 28 December)
January: 5 fishing days (1 January / 3 to 4 January / 17 to18 January)
February: 2 fishing days (7 to 8 February)
Easter weekend: 4 fishing days
Option 2: 21 fishing days
November: 4 fishing days (15 to 16 November / 29 to 30 November)
December: 5 fishing days (16 December / 25 to 28 December)
January: 2 fishing days (17 to 18 January)
February: 2 fishing days (7 to 8 February)
March: 4 fishing days (7 to 8 March / 28 to 29 March)
Easter weekend: 4 fishing days
Option 3: 21 fishing days
November: 6 fishing days (5 to 16 November / 22 to 23 November / 29 to 30 November)
December: 9 fishing days (6 to 7 December / 13 to 14 December / 16 December / 21 to 22 December/ 27 to 28 December)
January: 2 fishing days (3 to 4 January)
Easter weekend: 4 fishing days
The proposed TAC proposal only serves to confirm the parlous state of our lobster stocks and that the department's compliance strategies (what ever they are), are not working. These compliance and management failures are also clearly apparent in the abalone, line fish and other sectors where poaching and irresponsible fishing practices are rapidly on the increase.
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