My Places

Abalone
There are 2 species of Abalone commercially caught/farmed, Blacklip and Greenlip Abalone.
The Abalone Fishery exists around the entire coast of Tasmania.
Tasmanian is split into 6 Zones and smaller scale Sub Blocks within each Zone.
Different size limits apply across the zones.
Maximum catch limits apply across each zone and/or sub block to reduce the likelihood of local overfishing.
There are 8 Research areas throughout state waters where no commercial fishing can take place.
There are 125 wild catch licenses and 33 processors and the industry employs around 1400 people.
The Abalone fishery is an important contributor to the Tasmanian economy and in 2009/10 Abalone production was valued at $97 million.

Abalone Commercial Zones

Bass Strait Commercial Zone
Bass Strait Abalone Zone

Northern Commercial Zone
Northern Abalone Zone

Eastern Commercial Zone
Eastern Abalone Zone

Western Commercial Zone
Western Abalone Zone

Central Western Commercial Zone
Central Western Abalone Zone

Abalone Subblocks

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 1A
AREA: 284 SQUARE KLMS

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 1B
AREA: 91 SQUARE KLMS

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 1C
AREA: 187 SQUARE KLMS

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 3A

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 3B

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 3C

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 4C

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 4B

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 4A

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 34D

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 35D

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 35E

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 37D

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 50

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 51

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 52

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 27E

ABALONE SUBBLOCK: 24E

AREA: 21

Abalone Farms
There are 6 abalone farms around Tasmania

Abalone Farm Beauty Point

Abalone Farm Bicheno 1

Abalone Farm Bicheno 2

Abalone Farm Dunalley

Abalone Farm Stanley

Abalone Farm Swansea

Australian Salmon
Eastern Australian Salmon
Common names: black back, cocky salmon (juveniles), kahawai.
Juveniles are silvery-coloured with a number of brown spots on the sides. Adults are darker across the back with fading of spots. Pectoral fins are yellow.
Australian salmon mature at 4 years when they are around 40cm long. They can grow to 90cm in length and over 4kg in weight; on reaching this size, they are around 10 years old. Large (60-90cm) adult Australian Salmon are rarely caught in Tasmanian waters. Most often caught by anglers fishing in river mouths or off beaches where the fish can form large schools. It is common to observe schools breaking the surface waters as they feed on krill and small baitfish.
Most commonly caught when fishing with lures, flies or baits. A good fighting fish with improved eating qualities if killed and bled directly after capture. Most Australian Salmon caught in Tasmanian waters are juveniles which tend to move away from Tasmania when reaching maturity. Spawning occurs in Victorian and NSW coastal waters.
A second closely-related species, the Western Australian salmon, is occasionally caught in Tasmania, primarily as small juveniles. Western Australian salmon also move out of Tasmanian waters as they mature, with spawning occurring off South Australia and Western Australia. By comparison with Eastern Australian salmon, Western Australian salmon grow larger, with adult fish found off Western Australia averaging 8kg.
There is a commercial fishery in Tasmanian waters and there were 8 Fishing Licence (Australian salmon) issued in 2010. The annual commercial catch trigger was 435 tonnes in 2010 with the annual actual catch around 372 tonnes.
The Australian salmon fishery is managed under the Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules.
Commercial fishing for Australian salmon must not be undertaken in any of the following waters; Blackman Bay, Frederick Henry Bay, Norfolk Bay, Port Sorell, River Derwent and the Tamar River.
Commercial fishers must not take Australian salmon;
- within 500 metres of the low water mark at Swimcart Beach between Cosy Corner and Round Hill Point between 1st December and the 31st March
- within one nautical mile of the low water mark between Point Sorell at Hawley, near Devonport, and North Point, Stanley
- the waters of Great Oyster Bay north of an imaginary straight line between Webber Point and Fleurieu Point from 1st January to the 31st March
- the waters enclosed eastwood and northward by an imaginary straight line from the Coles Bay boat ramp to the eastern edge of the quarry on the northern side of The Hazards between Rulla Creek and Malunna Creek.

Banded Morwong
Banded Morwong can grow to just over 50cm and over 3.5kg in weight; on reaching this size, they may be as old as 90 years.
Rate of growth is fast in the first 5 years then slows. There is a distinct variation of growth patterns between males and females, with males growing larger.
Because spawning peaks between March and April, this is declared a closed season for banded morwong.
Banded morwong are normally found around shallow exposed rocky reef areas along most of the east and south east coasts of Tasmania.
Banded morwong have not been regarded highly by recreational fishers and are almost exclusively taken in gillnets. It has been a practice to use this species as rock lobster bait rather than a targeted foodfish. Recently the species has formed the basis of a live fish export market for professional fishers. These fish are returning a good price at the local Asian restaurant live fish markets.
Flesh of this species has a delicate flavour, though is considered dry. It is therefore best cooked in a way that ensures moisture is not lost, eg. baked in foil. Banded morwong are opportunistic feeders consuming both plant and animal material including algae, small crustaceans and marine worms.
The Banded Morwong fishery is a live net fishery where all banded morwong are caught and shipped alive to Asian restaurants and markets via Melbourne or Sydney. This fishery became restricted in 1996 when a limited number of non-transferable endorsements were issued. The fishing licence (banded morwong) was introduced in 1998 and was limited to 29 licences. There was concern about the increasing pressure on east coast stocks and as a result of a review of the fishery, part of the fishery moved to transferable quota management in October 2008.
The annual Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2011/12 was 31018 fish (40.3 tonnes) and this only applies to Assessment regions 1, 2 & 3.
The commercial fishery is managed via 5 distict Assessment Regions and 2 Management Areas.
The 2 Management Areas are divided by a north/south imaginary line between Low Head in the north of the state and Whale Head in the south of the state. The western side of this line is an area that has been defined as undeveloped and does not have a TAC. This Management Area includes the Furneaux Group of islands. The eastern side of this line has the total of the annual TAC applied to it. Assessment regions 1, 2 & 3 make up the TAC region and Assessment Regions 4 and 5 constitute the undeveloped area

Assessment Region 1
North East Assessment region for the Banded Morwong fishery. Forms part of the TAC Area for the state.

Assessment Region 2
East Assessment Region for the Banded Morwong fishery. Forms part of the TAC Area for the state.

Assessment Region 3
South East Assessment Region for the Banded Morwong fishery. Forms part of the TAC Area for the state.

West Assessment Region for the Banded Morwong fishery. Forms part of the Non TAC Area for the state.

Furneaux Assessment Region for the Banded Morwong fishery. Forms part of the Non TAC Area for the state.

Blue Eye Trevalla
This fishery is managed in commonwealth waters by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and there is no state based fishery. A small number of fish are caught in state waters as by catch under the Scalefish Fishery Rules.

Commercial Dive Fishery
The Tasmanian commercial dive fishery began in the 1980’s and since those early days of the fishery, there have been large fluctuations in catch and levels of activity in the fishery.
The most valuable species harvested by commercial divers is the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma. Sea urchins are harvested for their roe which is a highly valued product in Asia and Europe. Other species harvested by commercial divers include periwinkles and the introduced Japanese seaweed Undaria pinnatifida.
The Commercial Dive Management Plan is used to manage the fishery and introduces a number of management strategies to allow the commercial dive fishery to develop to its full potential while adhering to ecologically sustainable principles. The plan includes limiting the size of the fishery, establishing zones for specific species to allow greater management precision, zone closures over critical periods and the introduction of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) principles to overcome concerns relating to latent effort and to ensure sustainable stocks are maintained.
There are 3 zones for state waters, South Eastern, Central Eastern & the Undeveloped Zone. The size of the fishery is capped at a maximum of 55 commercial dive licences and all are transferable. All commercial dive licences are owned by owner/operators.

Sea Urchin
Sea urchins are the principal target species in the Tasmanian commercial dive fishery. For centuries sea urchins have been harvested for their roe in several South American, European and Asian countries. However, it is only in recent years that they have been commercially harvested in Australia.
Sea urchins are widespread throughout Tasmania, generally occurring in sheltered to moderately exposed waters off the south-east, east and northern coasts. Sea urchins are harvested for their gonads and are normally only taken from areas where the roe is produced in sufficient volumes and of a high quality. The amount of roe per individual urchin can vary both temporally and spatially and generally divers will not continue fishing when recovery percentages fall below 2% - 3% of whole weight. Studies of Tasmania's commercial species of sea urchin (Heliocidaris erythrogramma) were first carried out in the 1970s and showed potential for a specialised small fishery.
Since that time, the fishery has experienced substantial growth. A period of rapid development was experienced during the 1980s, reaching a peak in 1988 with reported landings of 358,633 kg live weight of sea urchin. Records since that time show an initial trend of decline in catch which has plateaued in recent years to catch figures in the vicinity of 100 tonnes annually.
Divers have provided detailed catch records since 1987 as a means of monitoring fishing catch and effort. While these records provide a good guide to the level of activity in the fishery and the number of urchin caught, they are far from a perfect data set. For example, records for between 10% and 15% of the reported catch lack detail on roe weight and thus recovery rates for this portion of the catch can only be estimated by extrapolation from existing data.
Another species of sea urchin, Centrostephanus rogersii, has been observed in increasing numbers on the East Coast and Bass Strait over the last few years. If markets can be established for Centrostephanus roe then it has the potential to substantially increase the volume of sea urchin roe exported from Tasmania. Holders of a commercial dive fishing licence have the authority to take Centrostephanus for which no TAC has been applied.
Sea urchin roe is considered a delicacy in many Asian and some European countries. At present, most roe is chilled and exported fresh to Japan. There is also a small domestic market for sales to Japanese restaurants in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In addition to the fresh chilled roe market, some research has been conducted into the use of lower grade roe for paté and other processed specialty foods.
Annual catch trends show around 100 tonnes are harvested each year.

Periwinkles
Periwinkles are harvested by divers in small numbers and have been cooked and packed with sauces for direct sale to the restaurant trade in the past.
Annual harvest rates are about 20t tonnes per year but can fluctuate based on market demand.

Undaria Seaweed
Undaria pinnatifida also known as Wakame is a brown macroalgae used as a food source, particularly in Asian soups and more recently as a vitamin supplement. It was originally endemic to Japan and is believed to have been inadvertently introduced into Tasmanian waters via ballast water.
Undaria is an annual seaweed which can grow very quickly at up to 1cm per day, matures after 40-60 days and can produce millions of spores which may pose a serious threat to endemic weed species. Undaria is prescribed as a noxious fish under S.27 of the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995, so while it can provide some supplemental income for divers, its management must be carefully administered.
To prevent its spread, the weed may only be gathered in the area where it is already fully established and as a licence condition, divers must ensure all their diving equipment has been thoroughly decontaminated before diving outside this area.
The holder of a fishing licence (commercial dive) must be acting under the authority of the holder of a fishing licence (undaria) to harvest undaria pinnatifida. Only when acting under the authority of both these licence types may a person harvest undaria by diving.

Central Eastern Zone
Central Eastern Zone is the area of State waters on the East Coast of Tasmania bounded on the north by the line of Latitude 42˚03' 25" S and on the south by the line of Longitude 148˚00' 00"E; (From in the vicinity of Friendly Point, to the southern tip of Tasman Island. This includes all waters on the east coast of the Tasman and Forrester Peninsulas and Blackman Bay). All above coordinates are specified in AGD66

South Eastern Zone
South Eastern Zone is that area of State waters on the East Coast of Tasmania bounded on the north by the line of Longitude 148˚00' 00"E and on the south by the line of Longitude 146˚52' 15" (From the southern tip of Tasman Island to Whale Head. This includes Maingon and Norfolk Bays). All above coordinates are specified in AGD66

Undeveloped Zone
Undeveloped Zone is that area of State waters bounded by the line of Longitude 146˚ 52' 15" in the south and extending in a clockwise direction to the line of Latitude 42˚03' 25" (from Whale Head, up the west and along the north coasts and down to the northern border of Central Eastern Zone around Friendly Point). All above coordinates are specified in AGD66

Danish Seine Fishery
Danish seine vessels have been operating in Tasmania since the mid 1930s and the method used today is largely unchanged from the original. Two species of fish are targeted, tiger flathead (Neoplatycephalus richardsoni) and southern school whiting (Sillago flindersi). All catch is landed whole.
Danish seine vessels in Tasmania typically operate close inshore (although outside of the one nautical mile limit) on flat sandy bottom. Water depths fished are approximately between 10 to 90 metres. See maps that relate to the Danish Seine fishery.
Danish seine fishing gear is very light and does not plough into the sea floor, but rather skips over the substrate, scaring and herding the fish into the net. Due to the light nature of the fishing gear, reefs are avoided by the operators. In general catch sizes are small, so there is minimal damage to the catch. The fish can be iced down quickly and the landed product is of a high quality. There is generally very little bycatch associated with this type of fishing.
What is the Danish Seine Fishery?
Its unique method of operation and low number of operators mean that very few people have a thorough understanding of what Danish seining actually is. Its similarity to demersal trawling has meant that there are many misconceptions and generalisations made about Danish seines, of which many are inaccurate.
Trawling was prohibited in Tasmanian coastal waters in 2001 and at the time holders of a Tasmanian fishing licence (general trawl) and (limited trawl) were only permitted to use Danish seine nets, which is still the case today. The fishery consists of eight licences, two limited trawl and six general trawl, with only four of these operating in the last five years. All licences are currently non-transferable, so cannot be sold or handed down to family members. In addition, a licence can only be operated by individuals that were historically nominated on the licence. Please note that trawling does still occur in Commonwealth waters, which are managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).
Danish seine operations mainly occur in Tasmania's south east waters with tiger flathead and southern school whiting being the major target species. However, other scalefish may be retained subject to the relevant limits for those species. There are also significant area restrictions in place for the fishery with all waters within one nautical mile (1.852 kilometres) of the coast being closed to fishing, with the exception of Ile des Phoques (White Rock). Other closed areas include, but are not limited to, Great Oyster Bay, Mercury Passage, the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and the River Derwent. One operator, however, is endorsed to fish within specific areas of the River Derwent and Frederick Henry Bay on weekdays only.

South East Area
Danish Seine fishing is allowed in this area but it is restricted to 3 sub areas only.
There is a Danish Seine Limited Area, Danish Seine (Whiting Codend) Permitted by Endorsement only and a Whiting Codend sub area.
Danish Seine fishing is not allowed within one nautical mile of the shore in this area.

Derwent River General Trawl Endorsement Area
Danish Seine (whiting codend) permitted by endorsement only.
Danish Seine fishing not allowed within one nautical mile of the shore in this area.
Danish Seine fsihing in this area is by endorsement only and there is only 1 fisher who has a non transferable endorsement.
Endorsement only allows fsihing on weekdays.

Frederick Henry Bay General Trawl Endorsement Area
Danish Seine (whiting codend) permitted by endorsement only.
Danish Seine fishing not allowed within one nautical mile of the shore in this area.
Danish Seine fsihing in this area is by endorsement only and there is only 1 fisher who has a non transferable endorsement.
Endorsement only allows fsihing on weekdays.

Storm Bay Whiting Codend Area
Whiting Codend Permitted in this area.
No Danish Seine fishing allowed within one nautical mile of the shore area.

Storm Bay Limited Trawl Area
No Danish Seine fishing allowed within one nautical mile of the shore in this area.

East Coast Area
Danish Seine fishery East Coast Area.
No Danish Seine fishing within one nautical mile of the shore.
No Danish Seine fishing in Mercury Passage and Great Oyster Bay.

North
Danish Seine fishery North Coast Area. Fishing allowed in state waters but not within one nautical mile from shore. Only allowed to use a Whiting Codend net. No danish seine fishing allowed in Croppies Point Closure Area.

Croppies Point Closure Area
No danish seine fishing allowed in this area.

Flathead
Tiger Flathead are fished commercially in Tasmanian waters using Danish Seine nets. Refer to Danish Seine fishery section for further details on the fishing gear method.
Danish seine vessels in Tasmania typically operate close inshore on flat sandy bottom. Water depths fished are approximately between 10 to 90 metres. See Danish Seine fishery section for areas where commercial fishing is allowed.
In general catch sizes are small, so there is minimal damage to the catch. The fish can be iced down quickly and the landed whole product is of a high quality. There is generally very little bycatch associated with this type of fishing.
Commercial fishing for Tiger Flathead mainly occurs in Tasmania's south east waters. However, other scalefish may be retained subject to the relevant limits for those species. There are significant area restrictions in place for the fishery with all waters within one nautical mile (1.852 kilometres) of the coast being closed to commercial fishing, with the exception of Ile des Phoques (White Rock). Other closed areas include, but are not limited to, Great Oyster Bay, Mercury Passage, the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and the River Derwent. One operator, however, is endorsed to fish within specific areas of the River Derwent and Frederick Henry Bay on weekdays only.
The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), which advises the Government on stock sustainability matters, has not indicated any concerns for the sustainability of Flathead in recent years.
Note - The vast majority of Flathead is caught by recreational anglers, with an estimated annual catch of around 300 tonnes. In contrast, the annual commercial catch of flathead is between 60 and 70 tonnes. Furthermore, the two sectors generally target different species of flathead, with the majority of the commercial catch made up of tiger flathead and the recreational catch dominated by southern sand flathead.

Garfish
Garfish can grow to around 40cm in length and over 0.5kg in weight, at which size they are around 8 years old.
Spawning occurs in shallow water (2-5m) over an extended period from October to February but reaches a peak in December.
An adult garfish female can produce 10,000 eggs which when laid sink to the bottom and attach to drifting algae.
Growth is rapid following hatching with the fish reaching 22cm total length between 1-2 years. Maturity occurs between 2 and 3 years.
Southern garfish are a schooling fish found in sheltered bays and inshore coastal areas, occasionally in estuaries, and especially where seagrass meadows are established.
They tend to be near the surface at night, and on the bottom to midwater during the day.
They are excellent fighters when hooked on light gear, however they have small mouths and a delicate bite and most anglers find using a float produces more successful results. Burley is also recommended to ensure that a school of fish remains near the fisher.
Favoured baits include; prawns, sandworms, fish flesh and raw chicken. They will occasionally take a small fly.
These fish are excellent eating providing the time is taken to properly remove the numerous bones. The flesh is translucent when raw and cooks white. It is sweet to the taste.
They are a favoured fish for sashimi dishes.
Southern garfish are mainly herbivorous with seagrass the dominant food item. They also eat plankton, worms and small crustaceans.
Commercial fishing for Garfish is managed in 2 zones, the northern and southern zones.
Southern waters are closed to fishing from 15 November 2012 to 14 December 2012 and Northern waters are closed from 15 January 2013 and 14 February 2013. Northern and southern waters are delineated by a line following the north coast of Tasmania, joined and bounded in the west by a line of latitude through Cape Grim and in the east by a line of latitude through Cape Naturaliste.
This fishery is managed under the Scalefish Rules.

Giant Crab
The giant crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas) fishery is a comparatively small fishery with annual harvest set at 62.1 tonnes, but is of relatively high value, with the landed valued estimated to be around $2 million.
The fishery has only been commercially targeted since the early 1990s but since then it has become fully exploited. In the short life of the fishery it has moved from being open access, then to limited entry and is now managed by individual transferable quotas.
The Male Giant Crab commercial fishing season is open all year.
The Female Giant Crab commercial fishing season is open from November to May each year.
The fishery is managed with a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) each year.

Mackerel
There are two categories of commercial fishing Mackerel licence: Category A (a quota is specified in the licence conditions) and Category B (no quota).
These licences permit fishing for:
- Trachurus declivis (commonly known as jack mackerel);
- Trachurus murphyi (commonly known as Peruvian jack mackerel);
- Trachurus novaezelandiae (commonly known as yellowtail mackerel);
- Emmelichthys nitidus (commonly known as redbait); or
- Scomber australasicus (commonly known as blue mackerel).
In July 2012 there were 4 Mackerel A licences and 1 Mackerel B licence and both are transferable.
Seafish Tasmania holds 4 Mackerel A licences and the Mackerel B licence is inactive.
The fishery is conducted in commonwealth and state waters with the state Total Allowable Catch being set independently of the commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery Eastern area Total Allowable Catch limit.
The Total Allowable Catch for state waters in 2012/13 was set at:
Blue Mackerel - 1500 tonnes in total with 1125 tonnes allocated to Mackerel A and 375 tonnes allocated to Mackerel B licences.
Redbait - 3450 tonnes in total with 2587.5 tonnes allocated to Mackerel A and 862.5 tonnes allocated to Mackerel B licences.
Jack Mackerel - 2500 tonnes in total with 1875 tonnes allocated to Mackerel A and 625 tonnes allocated to Mackerel B licences.
The fishery is split into 2 zones, Western Zone and Eastern Zone.
These mackerels (small pelagics) are caught using purse seine nets.
There are a number of areas around the state where purse seine nets cannot be used and these are listed in the Fisheries (Mackerel) Rules 2009 (S.R. 2009, No. 16)

Western Mackerel Zone

Eastern Mackerel Zone

Marine Farm Areas
Atlantic Salmon, Trout, Oysters, Abalone and Mussels are farmed in coastal waters and on land based facilities around Tasmania.

Blackman Bay Marine Farming Area

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Marine Farming Plan

Far North West Marine Farming Area

Furneaux Islands Marine Farming Area

Georges Bay Marine Farming Area

Great Oyster Bay Marine Farming Area

Huon River & Port Esperance Marine Farming Area

Macquarie Harbour Marine Farming Area

Pipe Clay Lagoon Marine Farming Plan

Pitt Water Marine Farming Area

Port Sorell Marine Farming Area

Storm Bay Marine Farming Area

Tamar Estuary Marine Farming Area

Tasman Peninsula Marine Farming Area C

Tasman Peninsula Marine Farming Area B

Marine Reserves
Seven Marine Nature Reserves have been declared in State waters, including Maria Island, Tinderbox, Ninepin Point, Governor Island, Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour, the Kent Group and sub-antarctic Macquarie Island.
All are protected areas and generally fishing by any method is prohibited however some marine reserves have areas where restricted recreational and commercial fishing is allowed.
Other activities which don't damage the marine reserves are generally allowed including swimming, boating, kayaking, snorkelling and SCUBA diving.
Further details are avaiable from the Parks and Wildlife Service http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=397

Governor Island Marine Reserve
The marine reserve at Governor Island provides some of the best diving in Australia. Shallow kelp-covered reef quickly drops down to spectacular sponge gardens. Butterfly perch and other fish swarm across the bottom.
Granite boulders and ledges provide habitat for kelp in the shallows and colourful invertebrates below 25 to 30 metres. Since the reserve was proclaimed, the numbers and size of rock lobster has increased dramatically. Large rock lobsters are now a common sight, especially in the deep sponge gardens and in sheltered ledges amongst the kelp.
Depth and exposure in much of this reserve means that it is most suited to experienced scuba divers and boat operators. Less challenging dives down to around 24 metres can be found around the smaller islands such as Bird Rock. At these sites, a small torch will help you investigate the numerous overhangs and small caves which are covered by colourful sponges, zoanthids and other invertebrates.
Governor Island is also an important sea-bird rookery. One of Tasmania's largest breeding populations of crested terns nest on the island. Underwater, the spectacular scenery of sheer rock walls, deep fissures and caves, is home for an unusually diverse range of colourful and captivating marine communities.
Warning: The waters around Governor Island are deep and subject to strong currents and swells. Diving is recommended for experienced divers only, or those under the leadership of an experienced diver. Swimming and diving is not recommended in The Gulch. This is a busy harbour with a popular boat ramp. Safe snorkelling and diving can be enjoyed in nearby Waubs Bay.
The best way to dive in the reserve is from a live boat as the depth and reef are not well-suited to anchoring. If you have to anchor, make sure it is on the kelp in water shallower than 20 metres to protect the sponge gardens from damage. It is a very good idea to have someone in the boat at all times in case the anchor doesn't hold. While it is possible to swim across the Gulch to access the reserve, boat traffic in the Gulch and currents in the Gulch and on the eastern side of Governor Island can make this impractical and even unsafe.
Underwater, the spectacular scenery of sheer rock walls, deep fissures and caves, is home for an unusually diverse range of colourful and captivating marine communities.
The rocky reef drops steeply into deep water in an area with strong ocean currents. This creates an environment of great scientific interest and provides some of the best scuba diving in Australian waters.
Water temperatures range from 11°C in winter to 20°C in summer. The cool winter waters are usually clear, with visibility often more than 30m! Spring plankton blooms can reduce visibility to 10m.
Governor Island Marine Reserve is an important sea-bird rookery. One of Tasmania's largest breeding populations of crested terns nest on the island. These striking birds can usually be seen from the boat launching ramp. Black cormorants, pied cormorants and Pacific gulls frequently rest on the craggy outcrops and Alligator Rocks.
The surrounding area is used for commercial fishing, recreational boating, fishing and other water sports. See our detailed map of the reserve.
The reserve is like a national park. Please 'Look But Don't Take' and enjoy the features of this special environment. However, please DO NOT:
- Collect living or dead material, harm or remove plants or animals. Dead shells often become a home for another creature.
- Fish or set nets or pots within the reserve.
- Please care for our coast and 'Don't Rubbish Our Sea'.
Try to avoid anchoring boats within the reserve. If you must anchor, do so on kelp-covered reef or, preferably, sand. Avoid anchoring on sponge gardens or seagrass.
Stow your rubbish, don't throw it. Plastic, ropes and fishing tackle can injure and kill marine life. Dumping rubbish at sea is illegal.
Please take care with liquid wastes such as detergents, fuel and oil, and sewage. These can be toxic to marine life.
Try to walk around plants and animals along the shoreline.
The reserve is jointly managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service and Marine Resources.

Kent Group Marine Reserve 1
The marine reserve covers some 29,000ha and the Sanctuary Zone covers the western part of the Kent Group including Dover and Erith Islands and Murray Passage as well as part of the western coast of Deal Island. The marine habitats of the Kent Group include shallow and deep reefs as well as extensive sponge beds in deeper water.
There is no fishing or setting of fishing gear in this zone.
Diving around the Kent Group ranges from the sheltered bays of Deal Island's east coast to rocky shorelines and outcrops exposed to the prevailing westerly weather. Many dive sites are subject to strong tidal currents, particularly those in the channel that divides the main islands. Gorgonian sea fans a metre or more high are a feature of the deep reefs. Clouds of barber perch and sweep swim amongst the boulders.
As the islands are well offshore there is little run off from rain and the water is generally clear, with visibility normally ranging from 15 to over 30 metres. The historic wrecks of the SS Bulli near Erith Isand and the SS Karitane at the southern end of Deal Island are in shallow water and make interesting dives.
The reserve is like a national park. Please 'Look But Don't Take' and enjoy the features of this special environment.
However, please DO NOT:
- Collect living or dead material, harm or remove plants or animals. Dead shells often become a home for another creature.
- Fish or set nets or pots within the reserve.
- Please care for our coast and 'Don't Rubbish Our Sea'.
Try to avoid anchoring boats within the reserve. If you must anchor, do so on kelp covered reef or, preferably sand. Avoid anchoring on sponge gardens or seagrass.
Stow your rubbish, don't throw it. Plastic, ropes and fishing tackle can injure and kill marine life. Dumping rubbish at sea is illegal.
Please take care with liquid wastes such as detergents, fuel and oil, and sewage. These can be toxic to marine life.
Try to walk around plants and animals along the shoreline.
The reserve is jointly managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service and Marine Resources. The marine environment around the Kent Group is listed on the National Estate because of its outstanding natural features.

Kent Group Marine Reserve 2
The marine reserve covers some 29,000ha and the Sanctuary Zone covers the western part of the Kent Group including Dover and Erith Islands and Murray Passage as well as part of the western coast of Deal Island. The marine habitats of the Kent Group include shallow and deep reefs as well as extensive sponge beds in deeper water.
Restricted fishing area, no netting or set lines allowed. The only fishing allowed in the area is line fishing (the taking of Rock Lobster and Abalone is prohibited for biosecurity reasons).
Diving around the Kent Group ranges from the sheltered bays of Deal Island's east coast to rocky shorelines and outcrops exposed to the prevailing westerly weather. Many dive sites are subject to strong tidal currents, particularly those in the channel that divides the main islands. Gorgonian sea fans a metre or more high are a feature of the deep reefs. Clouds of barber perch and sweep swim amongst the boulders.
As the islands are well offshore there is little run off from rain and the water is generally clear, with visibility normally ranging from 15 to over 30 metres. The historic wrecks of the SS Bulli near Erith Island and the SS Karitane at the southern end of Deal Island are in shallow water and make interesting dives.
The reserve is like a national park. Please 'Look But Don't Take' and enjoy the features of this special environment.
However, please DO NOT:
- Collect living or dead material, harm or remove plants or animals. Dead shells often become a home for another creature.
- Fish or set nets or pots within the reserve.
- Please care for our coast and 'Don't Rubbish Our Sea'.
Try to avoid anchoring boats within the reserve. If you must anchor, do so on kelp covered reef or, preferably sand. Avoid anchoring on sponge gardens or seagrass.
Stow your rubbish, don't throw it. Plastic, ropes and fishing tackle can injure and kill marine life. Dumping rubbish at sea is illegal.
Please take care with liquid wastes such as detergents, fuel and oil, and sewage. These can be toxic to marine life.
Try to walk around plants and animals along the shoreline.
The reserve is jointly managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service and Marine Resources. The marine environment around the Kent Group is listed on the National Estate because of its outstanding natural features.

Maria Island Marine Reserve
Maria Island Marine Reserve protects a representative range of the marine habitats found on Tasmania's east coast and forms part of the beautiful Maria Island National Park. The different habitats are home to a diverse range of plant, invertebrate and fish communities.
The diversity in dive sites in this reserve reflects the diversity of Maria Island's landscape. The reef in Fossil Bay, below the Fossil Cliffs, drops quickly from the rock platform to sand. Deep gutters with overhangs and small caves form spectacular seascapes and extend out from the shore to the clean white sand. Bull kelp as well as Ecklonia and other kelps adapted to the exposed conditions are the most obvious plants.
The section of the reserve that runs along the western shore of the island is much more sheltered and supports more delicate species of kelp. This part of the reserve is also protected from fishing and has been very useful to researchers investigating the effects of fishing and the effectiveness of marine reserves in this part of the world. Rock lobsters are much more abundant and much larger than in similar areas that are not protected from fishing. Numbers of reef fish such as bastard trumpeter have also greatly increased since the reserve was proclaimed, while they have become relatively uncommon outside the reserve.
Large leatherjackets, wrasse and seahorses are also very common, and this part of the reserve is a good place to see cryptic species such as warty prowfish or red velvetfish. The jetty and sheltered bay to the north provides a sheltered dive site that you can easily reach via the ferry. The jetty pylons support an array of colourful sponges, jewel anemones and other invertebrates. Keep an eye out for weedy seadragons and squid in the area to the north of the jetty. It is important to keep clear of boats using the jetty.
There are a number of shipwrecks around Maria Island. In 1924 the steamship Seymour sank near Darlington in a storm. Remains are sometimes washed ashore as ghostly reminders of Maria's maritime and industrial history.
The marine reserve is a fabulous place for snorkelling, scuba diving, birdwatching, beach walking and rockpool rambling.
Fishing is not allowed in the reserve.

Nine Pin Marine Reserve
The Ninepin Point Marine Nature Reserve occupies 731.8 hectares in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel near the mouth of the Huon River.
The reserve protects a unique assemblage of plants and animals in an unusual aquatic environment where cold, nutrient-rich sea water from the southern ocean is overlaid with tannin-rich freshwater leached from the decaying organic matter in the Huon River catchment.
The depth of the tannin layer at Ninepin Point varies throughout the year depending on rainfall. It may be almost absent during dry summer periods but can extend down to 12 metres or more after heavy rainfall and run off from the catchment resulting in near zero visibility. Water temperatures range from 8°C to 20°C.
The resulting tea-coloured water at Ninepin Point reduces light levels on the local reefs, allowing the growth of a fascinating array of invertebrates, fish and red seaweeds, normally found only in much deeper water on Tasmania's east coast. Conditions are ideal for the growth of red algae, resulting in an unusually high diversity of red algal species.
The reserve also includes some beach and foreshore areas in addition to the marine environments.
The Ninepin Point Marine Nature Reserve was first declared in 1991 as a nature reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970. This reserve classification was carried forward into the Nature Conservation Act 2002. A nature reserve provides for the conservation of the natural biological and geological diversity of the area and the conservation of the natural values of that area that are unique, important or have representative value.
The reserve area was significantly extended on 9 December 2009. The extension will greatly increase its conservation significance by providing a larger area for the protection of the unique natural values of the region. For example the deep reef habitat and invertebrate assemblages in the Arch Rock area and sheltered reef and sediments with their associated flora and fauna have been given greater protection.
Ninepin Point Marine Nature Reserve is also reserved as a marine nature reserve under the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 by virtue of Rule 3 of the Fisheries Rules 1999. These Rules establish ‘no take’ fishing restrictions within the reserve.
The reserve is jointly managed by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Marine Resources.

Port Davey/Bathurst Harbour Marine Reserve
The Port Davey Marine Reserve lies within the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Encompassing Port Davey, Bathurst Channel and Bathurst Harbour, the reserve (17 753 hectares / 178 km2) extends inland for more than 20 km to the north and east, up to the high water mark of all rivers, bays and estuaries.
Within its boundaries, the reserve protects all marine life and all habitats, including open ocean, exposed reefs, steep gorges, bays and inlets, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, and muddy and gravelly sediments. Declared in 2005, it is presently the only protected area within the Davey Bioregion – one of Tasmania’s eight continental shelf marine bioregions.
This region must surely be one of the most magnificent landscapes on the planet. Gold-green ranges, with bony quartzite ridges, rise sharply from the southern ocean and the broad interior waterways of Port Davey.
Four major rivers and numerous creeks cut through gorges and snake across open plains, draining their rust-coloured waters into the marine reserve. Small islands dot the surface of the dark waters. White quartzite sands fringe the shoreline. Mt Rugby – the highest and most prominent peak bordering the reserve – rises grandly from the western shore of Bathurst Harbour. On a fine, calm day the marine reserve’s waters reflect the landscape to endless perfection.
The underwater landscape is even more surprising. In Bathurst Harbour and Bathurst Channel a very unusual marine environment has been created by a deep layer of dark redbrown, tannin-rich freshwater, which overlies tidal saltwater. The tannins restrict sunlight penetration to the top few metres, limiting the growth of marine plants. In their place live colourful and delicate marine invertebrates. In the clearer marine waters of Port Davey – away from the influence of the freshwater tannins – a more typical Tasmanian underwater world exists. Diverse kelp forests and abundant fish thrive beneath the surging Southern Ocean waves.
The marine reserve includes two zones – a Sanctuary Zone (no take) where no fishing is allowed, and a Habitat Protection Zone (restricted take) where some fishing is allowed. Fishing restrictions extend upriver as far as the seaward limit in each of the rivers that flow into the marine reserve. To preserve wilderness values, land and water markers are not used to identify zone boundaries.
Sanctuary Zone (NO TAKE)
All forms of recreational and commercial fishing are prohibited. Sanctuary zones provide the highest level of protection to marine biodiversity, including habitat,animals and plants.
Habitat Protection Zone (RESTRICTED TAKE)
Restricted fishing (commercial and recreational) is allowed, and includes:
• Dive fishing for rock lobster and abalone only, using a rock lobster pot or ring
• Line fishing with no more than 5 hooks per line, and trolling
It is your responsibility to comply with licence, size, bag, possession and season limits as outlined in the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide (DPIW).
Netting, set lines, longlines, droplines, and the taking of marine plants and cast seaweed are prohibited. (Never transfer live bait between locations. Use of frozen bait can introduce exotic diseases).
The marine reserve was created to protect this extraordinary underwater world.

Tinderbox Marine Reserve
Tinderbox Marine Nature Reserve was declared to provide a safe, sheltered marine study area for education, research and recreation. A beach and the foreshore are included within the reserve.
Please 'Look But Don't Take' and enjoy the features of this special environment.
However, please DO NOT:
- Collect living or dead material, harm or remove plants, animals or shells. Dead shells often become a home for another creature.
- Please care for our coast and 'Don't Rubbish our Sea'
- Try to avoid anchoring boats within the reserve. If you must anchor, do so on kelp-covered reef or, preferably, sand. Avoid anchoring on sponge gardens or seagrass.
- Stow your rubbish, don't throw it. Plastic, ropes and fishing tackle can injure and kill marine life. Dumping rubbish at sea is illegal.
- Please take care with liquid wastes such as detergents, fuel and oil, and sewage. These can be toxic to marine life.
Tinderbox reserve is a great place to go for a snorkel or scuba dive. To the south, the rock platform drops 2 or 3 metres to sand. It is an ideal place for snorkellers to explore the ledges and crevices in the reef. To the north, the reef is wider and extends into deeper water. Progressing towards the Derwent Estuary, the reef becomes increasingly exposed to weather and the reef structure becomes more complex and drops more quickly into deeper water. Leatherjackets and wrasse are common on the reef, and if you look amongst the kelp you may be lucky enough to see a big-bellied seahorse or an octopus.
Another place to dive is to head directly out from the beach. The bottom drops gradually to 12 metres, then more quickly to well over 25 metres. A dive here on the open soft bottom in greenish water is an unusual experience for many, and provides an opportunity to see spiny pipehorses or Tasmanian numbfish. Look out for feeding tentacles of numerous Holothurians (sea cucumbers) that live buried in the sediment. A night dive along the edge of the reef is a good place to see volutes and gurnards.

Marine Farm Leases

Blackman Bay

Blackman Bay Zone 1
Category | Shellfish, Seaweed
Zone Area | 9.750 hectares
Maximum Leasable Area | 9.000 hectares

Blackman Bay Zone 2
Category | Shellfish, Seaweed
Zone Area | 4.34 hectares
Maximum Leasable Area | 4.30 hectares

Blackman Bay Zone 3
Category | Shellfish, Seaweed
Zone Area | 9.00 hectares
Maximum Leasable Area | 7.70 hectares

D'Entrecasteaux Channel

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 1A

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 1B
Category | Finfish, Shellfish, Seaweed

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 2A
Category | Finfish, Shellfish, Seaweed

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 2B
Category | Finfish, Shellfish, Seaweed

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 3

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 4

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 5

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 7A

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 7B

Category | FShellfish, Seaweed

D'Entrecasteaux Channel Zone 9C

Far North West

Far North West Zone 1A

Far North West Zone 1B
Maximum Leasable Area | x.xx hectares

Far North West Zone 2

Far North West Zone 3

Far North West Zone 7

Far North West Zone 8A

Far North West Zone 8B

Category | Shellfish

Furneaux Islands

Furneraux Islands Zone 1

Furneaux Islands Zone 2

Furneaux Islands Zone 3

Furneaux Islands Zone 4

Furneaux Islands Zone 6A

Furneaux Islands Zone 6B

Category | Shellfish, Finfish

Furneaux Islands Zone 18A

Furneaux Islands Zone 18B

Furneaux Islands SL2
ID | SL2
area | 5.95
MLA | 0
MFDP | Furneaux Islands

Furneaux Islands SL3
ID | SL3
area | 3.6
MLA | 0
MFDP | Furneaux Islands

Georges Bay

Georges Bay Zone 1

Georges Bay Zone 2

Georges Bay Zone 4

Georges Bay Zone 6A

Georges Bay Zone 6B

Great Oyster Bay

Great Oyster Bay Zone 1

Great Oyster Bay Zone 2

Great Oyster Bay Zone 3

Great Oyster Bay Zone 6A Part 1

Great Oyster Bay Zone 6A Part 2

Great Oyster Bay Zone 6B

Great Oyster Bay Zone 6C1

Great Oyster Bay Zone 6C2

Great Oyster Bay Zone 6D
Category | Juvenile Shellfish

Great Oyster Bay Zone 12A

Great Oyster Bay Zone 12B

Huon River

Huon River Zone 1

Huon River Zone 2
Category | Finfish, Shellfish

Huon River Zone 3
Category | Finfish, Shellfish

Huon River Zone 9A
Category | Shellfish

Huon River Zone 9B
Category | Shellfish

Huon River Zone 11A

Huon River Zone 11B

Huon River Zone 13A

Huon River Zone 13B

Huon River Zone 13C

Huon River Zone 13D

Huon River Zone 13E

Huon River Zone SL1

Macquarie Harbour

Macquarie Harbour Zone 1
Category | Finfish

Macquarie Harbour Zone 2A
Category | Finfish

Macquarie Harbour Zone 2B
Category | Finfish

Macquarie Harbour Zone 3A

Macquarie Harbour Zone 3B

Macquarie Harbour Zone 4A

Macquarie Harbour Zone 4B

Macquarie Harbour Zone 7

Macquarie Harbour Zone 8

Pipe Clay Lagoon

Pipe Clay Lagoon Zone A

Pipe Clay Lagoon Zone B

Pipe Clay Lagoon Zone 1

Pipe Clay Lagoon Zone 2

Pipe Clay Lagoon Zone 3

Pitt Water

Pitt Water Zone 1

Pitt Water Zone 2

Pitt Water Zone 3

Port Sorell

Port Sorell Zone 1

Port Sorell Zone 2

Port Sorell Zone 3

Storm Bay

Storm Bay Zone 1

Tamar

Tamar Zone 1

Tamar Zone 2
Category | Sygnathas and Planktonic

Tasman Peninsula

Tasman Peninsula Zone 1

Tasman Peninsula Zone 2

Tasman Peninsula Zone 3

Tasman Peninsula Zone 6A

Tasman Peninsula Zone 6B

Tasman Peninsula Zone 7A

Tasman Peninsula Zone 7B

Tasman Peninsula Zone 7C

Tasman Peninsula Zone 9A

Tasman Peninsula Zone 9B

Tasman Peninsula Zone 10C

Tasman Peninsula Zone 14C

Tasman Peninsula Zone 14D

Maritime boundaries

Countries

Joint Regimes

Disputed Areas

Octopus
All octopus have a short life history which culminates with the females dying soon after reproducing. The males may mate several times over a breeding season, but die shortly after.
All octopus carry venomous saliva which helps immobilise prey, the most venomous is the blue-ringed octopus and these are capable of causing death. They are relatively common in Tasmania and must not be handled. Octopus are considered highly intelligent creatures with remarkable learning capabilities.
A commercial fishery exists for Octopus in the north of the state. The fishery is based on 3 species, Pallidus, Tetricus & Maorum. There are 2 zones, North East & North West. A Fishing Licence (Octopus) is required to fish commercially and licence holders are restricted to 10,000 octopus pots. Pots must not be baited. Multiple pots are attached to a line and a licence holder must not exceed 1000 pots per line.
The main type of Octopus caught by recreational fishers are Maorum Octopus and are caught on lines, spears, gaffs, beach seine nets and by hand. They are excellent eating when cooked to a proven recipe. There is no minimum size for Maorum Octopus. Recreational fishers are allowed 100kg in all state waters except the Eaglehawk Neck area where a bag limit of 5 is allowed.

North West Octopus Zone

North East Octopus Zone

Research Areas
There are 9 research areas set aside for marine research in Tasmanian waters. Three in the south and six in the north of the state. No Abalone or Rock Lobster must be removed from any of the Research Areas.

Bay of Fires Research Area
Bay of Fires Research Area is closed to commercial abalone fishing.

Cape Grim Research Area
Includes waters adjacent to the west coast of Tasmania near Cape Grim around The Doughboys bounded in the north by the line of latitude 40. 40' 12" South and in the east by the line of longitude 144.40' 54"¨ East and in the south by the line of latitude 40. 40' 32" South and in the west by the line of longitude 144. 39' 59" East.
The following restrictions apply:
(a) taking any fish by diving or swimming underwater is prohibited; and
(b) entering the waters of those areas for the purpose of diving or swimming
underwater is prohibited.

Elephant Rock Research Area
No fishing by diving is allowed in the research area.

George III Rock Research Area
George III Rock research area is defined to be the waters within an imaginery circle having a radius of 500 metres and centred at George III Rock.
In the George III Rock research area, a person must not:
a) take any fish by diving or swimming under water;
b) enter the waters of the area for the purpose of diving or swimming under water or
c) anchor a vessel.

Inner Sister Island Research Area
Includes waters adjacent to the western side of Inner Sister Island in the Furneaux Group of Islands bounded in the north by the line of latitude 39. 41’ 8” South, in the south by the line of latitude 39. 42’ 6” South, in the east by the western shore of Inner Sister Island between those two lines of latitude forming the northern and southern boundaries, and in the west by an imaginary line 500 metres from the high water mark of the shore of Inner Sister Island running between those 2 lines of latitude forming the northern and southern boundaries.
The following restrictions apply:
(a) taking any fish by diving or swimming underwater is prohibited; and
(b) entering the waters of those areas for the purpose of diving or swimming
underwater is prohibited.

North Bay Research Area
No fishing or diving is allowed in the research area.

Swan Island Research Area
For commercial abalone divers, the research area includes waters adjacent to the east coast of Swan Island off the north-east coast of Tasmania within an area bounded by an imaginary line starting from the point of latitude 40 43’ 49.22’’ South and longitude 148.8’ 0.22’’ East running due west to the first point of land on the east coast of Swan Island, then following the high tide mark in a generally south-easterly direction along the coast to the point on the east coast of Swan Island that is due north-west of the point of latitude 40. 44’ 16.28’’ South and longitude 148.7’ 16.04’’ East, then due south-east to that point, then in a generally north-easterly direction 500 metres from the high tide mark of Swan island to the point of origin.
The following restrictions apply:
(a) taking any fish by diving or swimming underwater is prohibited; and
(b) entering the waters of those areas for the purpose of diving or swimming
underwater is prohibited.

Taroona Waters Research Area
The reserve extends in a south-easterly arc 800 metres from the shore from the end of Nubeena Crescent to the boat ramp on Taroona Beach. Rod and line fishing is permitted but fishing by swimming, diving, netting, potting and rings and use of longlines, droplines and set lines is prohibited.
Possession of abalone and rock lobster is also prohibited. Within 200 metres of the reserve is a buffer zone where fishing for abalone or rock lobster, possession of rock lobster or abalone whilst swimming or diving and the use of gillnets is prohibited. This provision allows for boats transiting the buffer zone to use the boat ramp.

Waterwitch Reef Research Area

Rock Lobster Fishery
The rock lobster fishery is a major Tasmanian industry providing significant benefits from exports from the commercial fishery and a highly popular and iconic recreational fishery.
The State’s remote location and pristine environment provide ideal conditions for the southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii). Commonly known in Tasmania as crayfish, the rock lobster lives in a variety of habitats ranging from shallow rocky inshore pools out to the continental shelf. It varies in colour from the deep reddish purple of shallow water specimens to purple and creamy yellow in deeper offshore waters. A large female rock lobster can carry up to 400,000 eggs. These ‘berried’ females are totally protected in Tasmanian waters and must be returned to the water immediately. This is one of many rigorous measures implemented by the State Government to ensure sustainability of this high value and highly prized crustacean.
Management of the Fishery
The fishery is managed under the provisions of the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and Fisheries (Rock Lobster) Rules 2011. Management includes a combination of input and output controls to ensure the industry’s ongoing viability. These include limited entry (312 licences); restricted seasons; gear restrictions (10507 pots) and requirements; a commercial total allowable catch (TAC for 2012/13 is 1103.25 tonnes); minimum size limits; and a comprehensive monitoring regime which requires documentation and real time reporting. There are no zones for this fishery in Tasmanian waters.
Key Markets and Exports
Rock lobster processed in Tasmania is exported to the mainland or directly overseas as live, fresh product. Export of live product has increased dramatically since the late 1980s, while exports of cooked product have declined. Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria continue to work collaboratively through Southern Rock Lobster Ltd to market their product with the aim of expanding export opportunities beyond South East Asia. In 2006/07, rock lobster was Australia’s top export by value ($463 million) and Hong Kong the top export market. Other primary markets for rock lobster include Japan, the United States, China and Chinese Taipei.
Rock lobster accounted for 38% ($65.2 million) of the total value of Tasmanian wild-catch production in 2009/10.

Scalefish Fishery
The Scalefish Fishery is a multi-species and multi-gear fishery that is predominantly made up of small owner operated commercial businesses and a large and diverse recreational fishery.
Catch and effort in the fishery are largely controlled through input controls such as limited entry (capped licence numbers), closed seasons and gear restrictions. Output controls such as minimum and maximum size limits and trip limits are also used, and recently a quota management system was introduced to manage the commercial take of banded morwong from the east coast.
To commercially catch and sell scalefish species fishers are required to hold specific scalefish licences. The platform for a commercial scalefish licence package is a fishing licence (vessel). A fishing licence (vessel) has four (4) different vessel length categories: 0-6 metres; 0-10 metres; 0-20 metres and >20 metres. There are a limited number of vessel licences in each length category. Under the Scalefish Management Plan, a fishing licence (rock lobster) is also classed as a scalefish licence due to the limited amount of scalefish gear rock lobster fishers are permitted to use.
The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) is the key research provider for Tasmanian fisheries. IMAS produces annual fishery assessment reports to ensure changes in stock status are detected early and suitable management responses can be implemented. The assessment report is largely based upon commercial catch and effort information which is collected in the Scalefish Fishing Record. Licence holders are obliged to record all fishing trip details and retained catch within the logbook and these must be submitted within 14 days.
The Scalefish Fishery is diverse and many types and sizes of vessels and different fishing gears are used. Some examples include gillnets, hook and line, longlines, spears, drop lines, squid jigs, automatic squid jig machines, fish traps, purse seine nets, beach seine nets, dipnets, octopus pots and Danish seine.
Some of the species commercially targeted include: banded morwong, southern calamari, octopus, tiger flathead, school whiting, southern garfish, wrasse, Gould's squid, bastard trumpeter, blue warehou, silver warehou, flounder, silver trevally and striped trumpeter.

Licences
To fish commercially for scalefish in Tasmanian waters you must hold a Scalefish Gear Licence and a seperate Species Licence.
Gear Licences:
Scalefish A licence permits you to carry up to 1000 metres of graball net, 200 hooks and 2 traps. There were 65 licences in 2010 and all are transferable.
Scalefish B licence permits you to carry up to 500 metres of graball net, 200 hooks and 2 traps. There were 157 licences in 2010 and all are transferable.
Scalefish C licence permits you to carry up to 150 metres of graball net or 200 hooks or 1 trap. There were 89 licences in 2010 and all are non transferable.
Beach Seine A licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 25 licences
Beach Seine B licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 26 licences
Purse Seine Net licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 10 licences
Small Mesh Gillnet licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 10 licences
Automatic Squid Jig licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 18 licences
General Trawl - Danish Seine licences are not transferable and in 2010 there were 6 licences
Limited Trawl - Danish Seine licences are not transferable and in 2010 there were 2 licences
Species Licences:
Australian Salmon licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 8 licences
Banded Morwong licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 28 licences
Octopus licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 2 licences
Southern Calamari licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 17 licences
Wrasse licences are transferable and in 2010 there were 62 licences

Danish Siene Fishery
The Danish seine fishery is a small component of the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery. Once managed under the umbrella of the Tasmanian Inshore Trawl Fishery along with demersal trawling, now only Danish seines are permitted to be used following the prohibition on demersal trawling in State waters in 2001.
Danish seine vessels have been operating in Tasmania since the mid 1930s and the method used today is largely unchanged from the original. Danish seine vessel typically range between 13 to 16 metres in length.
Tiger flathead and Southern School Whiting are the two key target species of the fishery. A small number of non-target species are also retained.
The majority of fishing effort is concentrated in the south and south-east regions of the State, with small amounts of activity in the north east and north west. Danish seine fishing nets looks similar to a small demersal or ‘otter’ trawl net, however, the two gear types have quite different modes of operation. Danish seine vessels in Tasmania typically operate close to shore (although outside of the one nautical mile limit) on flat sandy bottom. Water depths fished are approximately between 10 to 90 metres.
Danish seine fishing gear is very light and does not plough into the sea floor, but rather skips over the substrate, scaring and herding the fish into the net. Due to the light nature of the fishing gear, reefs are avoided by the operators. In general catch sizes are small, so there is minimal damage to the catch. The fish can be iced down quickly and the landed product is of a high quality. There is generally very little bycatch associated with this type of fishing.
Trawling was prohibited in Tasmanian coastal waters in 2001 and at the time holders of a Tasmanian fishing licence (general trawl) and (limited trawl) were only permitted to use Danish seine nets, which is still the case today. The fishery consists of eight licences, two limited trawl and six general trawl, with only four of these operating in the last five years. All licences are currently non-transferable, so cannot be sold or handed down to family members. In addition, a licence can only be operated by individuals that were historically nominated on the licence.
There are significant area restrictions in place for the fishery with all waters within one nautical mile (1.852 kilometres) of the coast being closed to fishing, with the exception of Ile des Phoques (White Rock). Other closed areas include, but are not limited to, Great Oyster Bay, Mercury Passage, the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and the River Derwent. One operator, however, is endorsed to fish within specific areas of the River Derwent and Frederick Henry Bay on weekdays only.

Endorsements
Endorsements can be issued which overide area closures and gear restrictions.
Endorsements have generally been issued to fishers who have had some form of historical fishing link to an area and all are non transferable. When the fisher exits the industry the licence must be surrended.
Current endorsements as at 2010 included:
2 x Beach Seine - Tamar
2 x Beach Seine - North West Coast
1 x Danish Seine - Whiting codend in Derwent
6 x Dip Net - Tamar
2 x Foot Fisher Flounder only - Pittwater
9 x Gillnet - Frederick Henry & Norfolk Bays
4 x Gillnet - Mercury Passage
4 x Gillnet - Tamar
2 x Gillnet - Port Sorell
2 x Small Mesh Gillnet - North Coast
12 x Unattended North Coast Night Netting
3 x Macquarie Harbour

Scallops
There is a commercial and recreational fishery for scallops in Tasmania and is based on 3 species, Queen, Doughboy and Commercial scallops.
Recreational fishers may only take scallops by hand and only the licence holder can dive for scallops. Size, bag and possession limits apply for all licenced fishers.
The main recreational scallop fishing area is the D'Entrecasteaux Channel in the south of the state. This area is closed by default and is only opened when scientific information and sampling determines there are sufficient scallops to support a sustainable fishery.
The commercial fishing season in state waters is closed by default and is only opened when scientific information and sampling determines there are sufficient scallops to support a sustainable fishery.
Tasmanian Scallop Fishery Harvest Strategy 2012 – Summary
The Tasmanian commercial Scallop fishery is managed under a comparatively strict spatial area management regime. This spatial management model sees the fishery completely closed unless an area is explicitly opened. Only discrete, relatively small areas are opened or nominated as “candidate open areas” after surveys indicate that basic “open area criteria” are meet. This strategy limits fishing to discrete areas and aims to:
• maximise stock rebuilding of scallops in unfished areas;
• protect stock in other areas for future access;
• limit fishing impacts on under size scallops and on bycatch species; and
• limit fishing impacts on the broader marine environment.
1. Performance Measures, Indicators and Decision Rules for the Commercial Fishery
There are a number of biological, environmental, economic and social criteria that need to be satisfied prior to an area being opened up to commercial fishing. Upon opening, a number of additional criteria need to be met for the area to remain open.
1.1 Minimum criteria (size and age limits) for a candidate open area
The minimum size limit criteria that must be met prior to a candidate open area being open to commercial harvesting is that at least 80% of scallops must be greater than minimum legal size (90mm), or it is established that 80% of the scallops are aged 3+ years, having at least 2 major spawning opportunities.
This measure gives protection to juvenile scallops and spawning stock beds, and assists in stock rebuilding by allowing the opportunity for scallop beds to undertake two major spawnings before being subject to capture. This relates to age (aged 3+ for P. fumatus), and may be generally correlated with size.
While the minimum size structure criteria is used to determining candidate open areas, it is acknowledged that size structure may vary, and at times open areas may contain patches of small scallops.
Size structure graphs will be used to indicate if there is a cohort of juvenile scallops starting to be detected. As juvenile scallops increase in size, so does the ability of the dredge to retain these scallops and correspondingly the frequency of juvenile scallops would generally be expected to increase as they increased in size. This needs to be considered when potentially nominating candidate open areas where there is a trailing edge of juvenile scallops emerging.
1.2 Alternative Minimum Size Limits
The growth rates of scallops varies around the state, and some flexibility is provided to allow alternate minimum size scallops, where it can be established that scallops at that size have had the opportunity to spawn at least twice.
Although aging is problematic in wild scallops, monitoring areas can be used as a proxy for the “two major spawning criteria”. If surveys have monitored a particular bed for a number of years demonstrating that the scallops in that bed, although not reaching the minimum legal size specified in the management plan, are in the 3+ year class, this bed can be deemed as commercially viable. This slow growing bed may then be considered as a candidate open area.
Additionally, if a new bed of scallops is found that meets the discard criteria based on an 80mm scallop, it can be assumed that these scallops have undertaken at least one major spawning, and as such only require monitoring for one more major spawning before being considered for harvest.
1.3 Commercial viability
Not all areas meeting the minimum biological criteria are listed as a candidate open area or opened. Areas may be ranked and prioritised after considering commercial viability. Commercially viability is a subjective measure largely determined by industry ScFAC members who may consider economic returns, catch rates, market suitability and estimated operational fishing and travel costs.
1.4 Listing candidate open areas
Surveys should map out the population structure and extent of any future candidate scallop bed as required. If surveys demonstrate that 50% of a fishing locality block meets the minimum criteria, and the size structure plot indicates that the required minimum 20% discard rate may be met prior to an opening, then the whole block can be listed as a candidate area (subject to future surveys confirming the discard rate), otherwise the boundary will reflect the extent of the mapped scallop bed. If the area has been subject to fishing within the last 5 years the locality block will be set as previously if possible, to help provide some level of continuity in fished areas.
1.5 Discard threshold
If a scallop vessel has more than 2 dredge tows in which more than 20% of the scallops are less than the minimum legal size (i.e not meeting the minimum biological criteria then the vessel should move fishing operations at least 250 metres from the area. If further encounters occur the coordinates for each area should be reported to the survey coordinator or DPIPWE and mitigation measures will be considered such as a small voluntary or a legislative closure.
1.6 Meat recovery guideline
Having a meat recovery guideline assists the economic return of the resource. As a general guideline, the meat recovery for the adductor muscle and roe weight should be greater than 11.8 grams, equating to less than 85 scallops per Kg.

Squid/Calamari
The two main species of squid taken in Tasmania are Southern Calamari and Gould's Squid (previously known as Arrow Squid). All these species are capable of rapid and numerous colour changes depending on an individual’s mood and environment.
Southern Calamari are very fast growing and can grow to over 2.1kg in weight and live for about 12 months.
Spawning occurs in shallow coastal waters around Tasmania and is concentrated during spring to summer. The finger-like egg capsules are laid by the females in masses of 50 to several hundred. On hatching, the juveniles swim to the surface and feed amongst the plankton layers. Calamari and Squid are voracious feeders eating krill, fish and other squid.
Gould's Squid (arrow squid) are schooling squid inhabiting waters from 0 to 500m in depth. They can be readily distinguished from the Southern Calamari by the presence of two fins at the base of the tail that give the animal a characteristic arrow shape.
They are similar to calamari because they have rapid growth rates and feeding behaviour and live only for about 12 months. Spawning occurs throughout the year and the eggs are probably released as free-floating masses.
Flesh of both species is white, soft and palatable providing it is cooked to a proven recipe. Both species are caught using squid jigs or baited hooks.
Seasonal area closures apply for squid/calamari for both commercial and recreational fishers and apply from mid October to mid November each year to protect spawning fish.

Striped Trumpeter
Striped Trumpeter are found throughout southern Australia, from Sydney to Kangaroo Island, including Tasmania.
Around Tasmania, spawning occurs between July and October. These fish produce large numbers of eggs. Typically a fish of 3.2kg can produce 100,000 eggs. Females reach maturity at around 45cm or 5 years old, while males reach maturity at around 53cm or 8 years old.
Larvae go through an extended larval phase of around 9 months before settling on inshore reefs. Juveniles are targeted by recreational fishers on inshore reefs while larger fish are mainly caught in deeper water.
Line fishers favour baits such as fish and squid, however these fish will occasionally take a lure or fly. Striped trumpeter are carnivorous and feed on crustaceans, fish, squid and octopus. Striped Trumpetrer are an icon fish and are a prized eating fish.
There is no targetted commercial fishery for Striped Trumpeter but commercial fishers are allowed to take a maximum of 250kgs per fishing trip as by-catch. By-catch provisions only apply to Scalefish and Rock Lobster Fishing licences.
There is a closed season for commercial and recreational fishers for the months of September and October to protect spawning fish.

Whiting
Southern School Whiting are caught on a commercial basis in Tasmanian waters with the use of Danish Seine nets.
Danish seine vessels in Tasmania typically operate close inshore (although outside of the one nautical mile limit) on flat sandy bottom. Water depths fished are approximately between 10 to 90 metres.
See maps that relate to the Danish Seine fishery for areas where fishing is allowed. The fish can be iced down quickly and the landed whole product is of a high quality. There is generally very little bycatch associated with this type of fishing.
Danish seine operations mainly occur in Tasmania's south east waters. However, other scalefish may be retained subject to the relevant limits for those species. There are also significant area restrictions in place for the fishery with all waters within one nautical mile (1.852 kilometres) of the coast being closed to fishing, with the exception of Ile des Phoques (White Rock). Other closed areas include, but are not limited to, Great Oyster Bay, Mercury Passage, the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and the River Derwent. One operator, however, is endorsed to fish within specific areas of the River Derwent and Frederick Henry Bay on weekdays only.
The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) which advises the Government on stock sustainability matters, has not indicated any concerns for the sustainability of whiting stocks in recent years.

Wrasse
A number of wrasse species are common to Tasmanian waters. Possibly the most frequently encountered species are the purple and blue throat wrasses. Blue throat wrasse change sex from female to male and in doing so, their colouration and general appearance becomes distinctly different. This results in many anglers assuming they are different species.
Blue throat wrasse females are orange/brown with a broad dark saddle across the back. The males have the distinctive blue throat and bull head.
Blue throat wrasse can grow to 50cm in length and around 4kg in weight. The maximum age for these wrasse is believed to be 11 years. The purple throat wrasse lives for 17 years.
Wrasse are commonly found around reef areas where they will aggressively compete with other fish species for territory and food items. This aggressive behaviour makes wrasse prone to easy capture by fishing from rocks, wharves and boats where they can give a good fight on light to medium tackle.
Wrasse have strong teeth which can weaken light fishing line to the point of breaking, therefore anglers should consider the use of traces of heavier gauge leader material when fishing for them.
A characteristic of wrasse when hooked is that they will dive in between rock crevices or weed in an effort to evade capture.
Wrasse are commonly used for bait in craypots due to their ease of capture and plentiful numbers, however there may be localised stock depletion on some reef areas due to heavy fishing pressures.
They are a marketable fish species in the export live fish trade and special commercial licences are required to fulfil this market. Commercial fishing is managed under the Scalefish Fishery with 63 licences issued in 2011. There are no zones in this fishery and commercial catch was 79 tonnes in 2010.
The flesh of this fish is white and good eating, providing moisture is not lost during the cooking process.
Spawning occurs between August and January.