Management Arrangements for the 2024-25 Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) Fishing Season

The 2024-25 fishing season for the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery (TRL Fishery) will commence on 1 December 2024. Key management arrangements that will apply this season are detailed here.

Total Allowable Catch

On 5 November 2024, the Hon. Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry determined a total allowable catch (TAC) of 200,000 kilograms of tropical rock lobster (TRL) in the Australian waters of the TRL Fishery for the 2024-25 fishing season to apply for the fishing season commencing on 1 December 2024. It is expected that the TAC will be increased once the outcomes of the scientific assessment processes and the catch sharing arrangements under the Torres Strait Treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have been considered. Any increase in the TAC is expected to be determined by the end of February 2025. 

Under this TAC, the value of each quota unit and available catch for each TRL Fishery sector is outlined in the table below. All weights are provided in unprocessed weight in kilograms.

* Held by the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA)

A further explanation of how TACs are determined for the TRL Fishery, how catch is shared between Australia and PNG, and how each sector’s catches will be managed for the 2024-25 fishing season, is provided in the TRL Management Arrangements Booklet 2024-25.

Moontide Hookah Closures

Under subsection 13(2) of the Torres Strait Fisheries (Tropical Rock Lobster) Management Instrument 2018, the use, possession or control, on a boat, of hookah gear to take, process or carry TRL will not be permitted during the 2024-25 fishing season during the moontide hookah closure periods listed below and shown in the Moontide Hookah Closures calendar.

Closure periods:

1. 00:01 on 25 February until 23:59 on 3 March 
2. 00:01 on 26 March until 23:59 on 1 April 
3. 00:01 on 25 April until 23:59 on 1 May 
4. 00:01 on 24 May until 23:59 on 30 May 
5. 00:01 on 22 June until 23:59 on 28 June 
6. 00:01 on 22 July until 23:59 on 28 July 
7. 00:01 on 20 August until 23:59 on 26 August 
8. 00:01 on 5 September until 23:59 on 11 September 

All closure periods are listed in AEST. 

These moontide hookah closures are in addition to the hookah closure period from 1 December and 31 January each fishing season. Free-diving, lamp fishing and traditional fishing are permitted during all hookah closure periods. 

Should you have any questions concerning the matters covered in this letter, please contact the AFMA Thursday Island office on 07 4069 1990 or FisheriesTI@afma.gov.au. If you would also like to receive future management updates by email or SMS please contact the AFMA Thursday Island office to update your contact details.