Transiting Biotoxin Regions - Eastern Region

You can transit though closed biotoxin zones to fish in open waters eg. in the Western Region past Whale Head.

In a closed biotoxin zone you cannot:

• take rock lobster;

• dive for lobster, be in the water and possess rock lobster; or

• set pots or rings.

Provided the Eastern Region season (or parts thereof) is open, fishers can transit back from the Western Region to the Eastern Region open areas with rock lobster providing they comply with Eastern Region bag limits before proceeding past Whale Head or Point Sorell.

Please think about your safety before fishing in unfamiliar waters.

Season Closures

During the closed season in a Region (eg. Eastern Region or part of) recreational fishers cannot:

• possess rock lobster or rock lobster pots or rings in the Eastern Region, or
• travel by water with rock lobster or rock lobster gear aboard to access open waters.

This has been in place for several years for resource management purposes.

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Biotoxin Decision Making Protocols

DPIPWE Wild Fisheries has developed the Rock Lobster Biotoxin Plan and Decision Protocol in consultation with the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fisherman's Association, the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders. It is used to determine management responses in relation to a Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PST) event. The policy for the Recreational Rock Lobster Fishery for Biotoxin Events is also below.

  Rock Lobster Biotoxin Plan and Decision Making Protocol July 2015   (997Kb)

  Recreational Rock Lobster Fishery Biotoxin Events Policy   (105Kb)

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Recreational Licence Refunds

Please note that recreational licence refunds will not be granted if you are unable to fish in some waters due to biotoxin closures.  Licences grant access to all Tasmanian waters and biotoxin closures apply only to specific zones within those waters.  Licence holders can still fish outside any closed areas.