PORT MacDonnell’s multi-million dollar rock lobster fishery is now in full swing with dozens of commercial boats heading out yesterday for the highly anticipated start of the 2018-19 season.
Commercial fishing crews yesterday headed out to sea to drop pots with the first catch expected to be brought to shore this morning.
Port MacDonnell is home to the largest southern rock lobster fleet in Australia with 55 commercial boats moored in the harbour.
The rock lobster industry generates $350m in economic activity each year with a significant portion of the sector scattered along the Limestone Coast.
Commercial fishers will again be able to haul in up to 1245 tonnes across the southern zone fishery, which has remained unchanged for the past nine consecutive years.
But the clogged harbour continues to fuel concern among commercial fishers who are worried about whether the build-up of sand and seaweed will hamper refuelling.
Port MacDonnell Professional Fisherman’s Association spokesperson Roger Cutting yesterday welcomed the start of the season with hopes high of a bumper price and strong catch rate.
While pot sampling research indicated the number of under-sized lobsters was down, he said the industry would just have to wait and see what the catches and prices would be.
But he warned the industry needed to take heed of the lower under-sized lobsters trend in the fishery to ensure ongoing sustainability.
“The number of under-size lobsters is still not up to the level they should be,” Mr Cutting said.
But he said the pre-season sampling indicated catch rates were higher at least at one port.
While beach prices traditionally started quite high, he said fishers would get an indication of the prices over the next few days as the lobsters start flooding in.
“We will know more in a two to three days,” Mr Cutting said.
“They might start out at $80 to $90 per kilogram or even $100 – we just do not know.”
However, he warned the most pressing problem facing the fleet was the build up of sand and seaweed in the channel and the possibility boats will not be able to refuel.
“Boats can still get in at high tide at the moment, but it is not looking good,” Mr Cutting said.
The Port MacDonnell Fisherman’s Association is working behind the scenes to progress a solution, which has included visiting dredging works at Beachport.
Meanwhile, more than 50 fishers and coastal residents attended the blessing of the fleet on Sunday morning at the Port MacDonnell boat ramp.
With welcome sunshine bathing the attendees, the fleet was blessed by Reverend Murray Earl.
Reverend Earl read a Bible passage and called for safe passage during the fishing season for all fishermen.
Mr Cutting then threw in a craypot as Reverend Earl prayed for a successful season for the fishermen, after which each of the fishermen then called out their boat’s name.
Rev Earl then prayed for family and friends who had passed away at sea and people threw flowers into the water in remembrance.
The service finished with a blessing of all those present.
