Recreational anglers on Tasmania’s East Coast will soon be able to fish for Rock Lobster in two research areas that have remained untouched for the last 15 years.
Starting from December, Tasmania’s Elephant Rock and North Bay areas, covering a total of 80 hectares and 47 hectares respectively, will reopen for the first time since 2008.
Primary Industries and Water Minister Jo Palmer said the areas will be open exclusively to recreational fishers for an initial three-year period.
“This hasn’t been available to rec [recreational] fishers or to commercial fishes for quite some time,” Palmer said.
“We know there are greater numbers of rock lobsters and larger rock lobster present in these research areas.”
“By giving our recreational fishers controlled access to these areas they can support research into the values of recreational fishing, including the potential merits of recreational-only fishing areas.”
“It also provides an opportunity to provide a temporary recreational-only rock lobster area with benefits flowing to local communities.”
Tarfish CEO Jane Gallichan said the fishing will be “like we haven’t seen on the East Coast in generations.”
The closure was necessary to study the impact of large lobsters on the invasive long-spined sea urchin.
