Commercial Fishing Seasons

​​​​​​​​​​Fish illustration by Peter GouldthorpeFisheries may be closed at spawning times to protect breeding stock or to limit the catch for a fishery. They may also be closed for public health reasons - see Biotoxin Fishery Events. If not listed, no commercial season applies.

For changes to published fishing seasons, check public notices in Tasmanian newspapers, follow the Fisheries Tasmania Facebook page or call the Department switchboard on 1300 368 550.

​Species​Season
​Rock Lobster

2021 - Season Closure

Female - closed from Saturday, 1 May 2021 for all State waters.

Male - closed from Wednesday, 1 September 2021 all waters south of St Helens Pt around to Sandy Cape (41° 29' ).

Male - closed from Friday, 1 October 2021 all other State waters.​

2021-22 Season Opening

All waters outside the East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone (ECSRZ)
 Open from Monday, 15 November 2021.

East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone
Open from Tuesday, 7 December 2021.

If the total commercial catch for ECSRZ approaches the catch cap trigger, the commercial season may not open until 1 March 2022. 

​Garfish
 ​Southern Waters
Closed to fishing from 15 November to 14 December inclusive​ in 2021.

Northern Waters
Closed to fishing from 15 January to 14 February inclusive in 2021 and 2022.

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.
​Giant Crab
 ​Males - Open all year round.
Females - from 15 November in a year to 31 May the following year inclusive.
​Banded Morwong ​Closed to fishing from 1 March to 30 April inclusive each year.
​Scallops ​Open 1 September 2021
Close 31 December 2021
​Striped Trumpeter
 ​Striped trumpeter are closed to fishing from 1 September to 31 October inclusive each year.
​Squid / Calamari
Spawning Closures
 ​East Coast
Upper south east coast waters including Great Oyster Bay and Mercury Passage from 15 October to 14 November inclusive each year.​
 
North Coast
Tasmania's north coast will be closed from 1 - 31 October 2021 inclusive - see map. 
Abalone​ ​Open all year round although a cap exists in many zones in this fishery. See current zone closures on the Abalone Closures webpage.
​Octopus ​Open all year round.
See also:
Recreational Fishing Seasons

Contact

Wild Fisheries Management Branch
Level 3, 134 Macquarie Street
GPO Box 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6165 3000
Email: commercial.fisheries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

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