WRLC Updates

Next WRLC Board meeting 23.07.2010 - Jurien

The 2010 WRLC AGM will be held in Perth on Friday 15.10.2010.

Link to Department of Fisheries Paper FMP 239 WRL Fishery Harvest Strategy click here

THE WEBSITE OF THE WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER COUNCIL

What's New

Options put forward to RLIAC and Minister - WRLC board meeting 3 Aug 09 ---Full minutes of meeting
Western Rock Lobster Council Research Projects Update
New National Seafood CRC – the new gateway for research in the WRLF?
Marine Bioregional Planning
Western Rock Lobster Council Strategic Plan 2005-10
Papers on Input management and Quota management for the WRLF
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE WRLF
Discussion on 2009/10 management package
Department of Fisheries Research papers
Economic Review of Industry
Code Of Practice for Reducing Whale Entanglements
Marine Stewardship Council Audit
Confirmed Minutes of Meetings
Western Rock Lobster Council Research Projects Update

Research Update:

  • Recently completed research/projects
    • Pilot study into improved pot design for the Western Rocklobster fishery
    • Biodiesel for the WRLF - adobe  Read Report
    • Market investigation of impact of Rocklobster Aquaculture on the Western Rocklobster Fishery
    • A scenario analysis of the social impact of the WRL industry management options on fleet hosting communities  adobe   Read Report
    • Australian Global Lobster Market Database
    • Development of bait saving strategies for the Western Rocklobster fishery  adobe  Read Report
  • WRLC research Currently underway
    • Improving economic efficiency through detailed review of input controls in theWestern Rocklobster Fishery
    • Improving Profitability in the Western Rocklobster Fishery using a rocklobster trap
    • Investigation into the use of RFID tags in the Western Rocklobster fishery
    • Evaluating the potential use of change-in-ratio and index removal techniques for determining harvest rates and efficiency increases in the Western Rock Lobster Fishery
    • Implementation of a waste management strategy for the Abrolhos Islands
  • Related research in progress
    • Climate change / Oceanographic modelling (WA Department of Fisheries) Lead - Nick Caputi / Ming Feng
    • Maximum Economic Yield Assessment for the WRLF (WA Department of Fisheries) Lead - Nick Caputi / Chris Read
    • Monitoring undersize lobsters / deep/w settlement (meshed pots) in the WRLF (WA Department of Fisheries) Lead – Simon de Lestang
    • Impact of removals from deepwater on the WRLF (deep-water ecology project) (WA Department of Fisheries) Lead – Lynda Bellchambers / Mathew Pember
    • Lobster behaviour and catchability (Murdoch University) PhD student – Natalie Toon

For a more detailed update please click here

New National Seafood CRC – the new gateway for research in the WRLF?

Since 1991, the Commonwealth government has established well over 100 Cooperative Research Centres ranging from a wide variety of technical areas which include manufacturing, medical, information technology, environment, mining and agricultural technologies.

Cooperative Research Centres draw industry and small to medium businesses with researchers to develop solutions for business and industry needs. The Centres have a strong track record in producing innovative solutions and as such have received widespread support from all levels of the business and industry sectors.

While businesses and industry are the first to benefit from the Centres, the benefits go well beyond building a stronger economy, enhancing our health and safe guarding the environment for future generations.

While every Cooperative Research Centre is unique, all of them broadly serve the objectives of the federal Cooperative Research Centres program. These are to enhance the:

  • Contribution of long-term scientific and technological research and innovation to Australia's sustainable economic and social development
  • Transfer of research outputs into commercial or other outcomes of economic, environmental or social benefit to Australia
  • Value of Australia of graduates researchers
  • Collaboration among researchers and between researchers and industry or other users, and to improve the efficiency in the use of intellectual and other research resources
The mission of the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre is to assist end-users of its research to profitably deliver safe, high-quality, nutritious Australian seafood products to premium markets, domestically and overseas. The goal of the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre is to double the value of the Australian seafood industry to $4 billion by 2017 to generate more than 2,800 new jobs in rural and regional areas. The Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) is now an industry partner of the Australian Seafood CRC and the WRLC will be working in tandem to secure funding for projects focused on profitability and sustainability in the WRLF. The WAFIC-CRC Strategic plan can be downloaded as well as a compilation of past and present research conducted in the WRLF and how these align with the Seafood CRC Research themes.

Marine Bioregional PlanningReturn to Top

What progress has been made in marine bioregional planning in the South-west?
The Marine Bioregional Planning Program started in 2006, aims to develop Marine Bioregional Plans under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) and establish regional networks of Commonwealth Marine Reserves, contributing to the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. All Governments in Australia have a shared international commitment to establish a national representative system by the year 2012.
Read more

Western Rock Lobster Council Strategic Plan 2005-10Return to Top

The Western Rocklobster Fishery (WRLF) will change significantly over the next 5 years. The changes will be the result of a cohesive industry implementing innovative and well planned strategies that address the key challenges that face users of a community owned resource in a global economy.
adobe  WRLC Strategic Plan Report

Papers on Input management and Quota management for the WRLFReturn to Top

The following links are all.PDF documents.

INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE WRLFReturn to Top

The following links are all.PDF documents.

Discussion on 2009/10 management packageReturn to Top

The following links are all.PDF documents.

Department of Fisheries Research papersReturn to Top

The following links are all.PDF documents.

Economic Review of IndustryReturn to Top

Following a recent review of what would be the best management system for the Western Rock Lobster industry, fishermen in the business voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the current input control system. A directive from the Minister for Fisheries followed, with the challenge to industry to modify the current system to ensure a better economic return for the industry and the wider community

The WRLC is currently working on a project to assess the current economic status of the fishery and to develop a model that fishermen can use to predict how improving the management system will affect their financial bottom line.

The WLRC has engaged a modeller who is developing the software, expected to be available at the Coastal Tour In October 2008. A document explaining the process and containing a brief snapshot of the industry at the time was sent to all fishers. Additional copies can be obtained from the WRLC or you can download it by clicking on the following link  adobe  Background on WRLF RSM summary

Code Of Practice for Reducing Whale EntanglementsReturn to Top

The WRLC in conjunction with the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) has developed a Code of Practice to reduce incidents of interactions with whales. The Code addresses best practice procedures for lobster fishermen which will also assist in reducing interactions with other marine wildlife. The Code of Practice also includes information on the ecology and management of the whale populations, environmental management of the WRL industry and information on the CALM disentanglement program. The WRLC encourages all fishermen to abide by the Code, and ensure that the impacts of the WRL fishery on the environment are minimised. Copies of the Code are also available from the Western Rock Lobster Council.

It is important for all fishermen to have a copy of the Code in your Best Practice folders. If you do not have a copy of this Code, please contact the Council on 9340 5000.

Marine Stewardship Council AuditReturn to Top

The stock assessment and harvest strategy workshop for the WRLF was conducted at Department of Fisheries in October 2007. The outcomes of this workshop were used to further improve the Department of Fisheries Biological Model. The summary of this workshop can be downloaded below.

The MSC clientship is now in the hands of the WRLC. The latest MSC audit will be conducted on 17th November 2008. Click on the link to download the latest copy of the Ecological Risk assessment for the WRLF and the surveillance report from the November 2008 MSC audit.

Confirmed Minutes of MeetingsReturn to Top

The following links are all.PDF documents.