Victorian Rock Lobster Management Plan

The Victorian Rock Lobster Management Plan 2024 was declared in October 2024.  This management plan is the fourth for the fishery and replaces the previous plan declared in 2017. The first management plan for the Rock Lobster Fishery was introduced in 2003 and focused on rebuilding rock lobster stock and improving the economic prosperity of the commercial fishery. Each subsequent plan has expanded on the directions within the first plan and enhanced the sustainability of the rock lobster stock for all harvesting the resource.

The management plan specifies the policies, management objectives and strategies for managing Victoria's rock lobster resource under the requirements of the Fisheries Act 1995 and the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

The objectives underpinning this management plan for the Rock Lobster Fishery are:

Objective 1:  Ensure the sustainability of the rock lobster resource

Objective 2:  Optimise community benefit of the rock lobster resource

Objective 3:  Ensure best practice cost-effective participatory management

Objective 4:  Sustain the ecological integrity of the fishery ecosystem

Objective 5:  Enhance community trust, respect and value of the fishery

The Management Plan builds on initiatives introduced under the third management plan for the fishery, with an updated catch rate-based harvest strategy and a revamped digital program to estimate recreational catch. Both are focused on ensuring that the rock lobster resource is managed sustainably; that the total annual removal from the resource by the commercial and recreational sectors is known; and that analyses of the stock are accurate.

An important principle embraced in this management plan is the introduction of a stock rebuilding target and rebuilding timeframe. This will provide a clear direction and commitment to rebuilding biomass to optimise benefits to all resource users. The Management Plan also maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. This is reflected by embedding an annual data review process into the science program underpinning the assessment of the rock lobster resource and in the development of annual workplans. This ensures constant evaluation and identification of changing conditions to allow management activity to be directed appropriately and the resource to continue to be managed efficiently and effectively.

The status of the stock and the existing management arrangements in the fishery have been reviewed in consultation with stakeholders. The Victorian Fisheries Authority would like to thank the members of the steering committee for their involvement and effort in developing this management plan and to all members of the community who provided input.

A copy of the plan can be downloaded below: