Lobster Now Off Limits

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district officer Bill Nason said the closure was vital to protect species at vulnerable times in their life cycle, such as during spawning season.

"Closed seasons or regulated waters prevent people from fishing at certain times of the year to protect valuable breeding stock," he said.

"Rock lobster closures are in place in Queensland tidal waters:

north of latitude 14 S, south of Cape York, and east of longitude 1423149" E in the Gulf of Carpentaria, shoreward of the 25 n mile line and south of latitude 1048 S."

While there is no size limit to tropical rock lobster, a size limit (11.5 cm tail minimum, 9 cm carapace minimum) applies to painted crayfish (Panulirus ornatus).

For further information on closed seasons, visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.