A review of the current global status and future challenges for management of lobster fisheries

Abstract

The management of Panulirus ornatus in Torres Strait, Panulirus argus in the Bahamas and also in Florida, Panulirus cygnus in Western Australia and Panulirus interruptus in Baja California shared by the USA and Mexico is assessed. These major lobster fisheries have survived the last 7 years without major collapse, and Indonesia’s catch is continuing to increase. The world of fisheries management is now at a much more complicated place than it was 10 or more years ago. Modelling of data from catches in the fishery, effort and sales prices of product and costs of fishing is now common. Other items also encountered by scientists, managers and industry managing the fisheries include ecosystem-based fishery management, management performance reviews, MSC reviews, productivity commission inquires, status of the stock assessments for permission to sell product overseas, bioeconomic modelling to improve harvest strategies, cost-benefit analysis and significantly the effects of climate change.