Throughout the world 60 percent of commercial marine fish stocks are either fully fished, over-exploited, depleted or in a state of recovery. When fisheries collapse not only is the stability of the marine ecosystem threatened but local economies suffer. In March 2000 the Western Rock Lobster Fishery in Western Australia, together with the Thames Blackwater Herring Fishery in the UK, became the first fisheries in the world to receive the Marine Stewardship Council's certification for sustainability.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a non profit organisation committed to the long-term viability of global fish supply and the health of marine ecosystems. It was founded in 1996 as a joint initiative between Unilever and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The MSC has developed a solution through its certification program that uses market incentives to influence the way fisheries are managed in favour of environmental standards. An MSC logo informs consumers that when they buy seafood products bearing the logo they are supporting healthier oceans and a healthier environment.

The Western Rock Lobster Fishery is the most valuable single-species Fishery in Australia representing 20 percent of the total value to Australian fisheries. The lobsters are exported mainly to Southeast Asia, USA and Europe. The Fishery was one of the first managed fisheries in Western Australia, data having been kept on it since the early 1960s. This database enables Fisheries' scientists to predict catches accurately and ensure adequate protection of breeding stocks. The Fishery is fully exploited and maintains a high product value. It was originally an initiative of the fishermen to ensure the protection of the Fishery and at the end of the 2001 season was given the option of extending the season, which they declined.

Eight species of rock lobster are found off the Western Australian coast, though virtually the entire catch consists of the Western Rock Lobster, Panulirus Cygnus. This lobster is caught up to 60 km off the coast between Augusta and Shark Bay and the method of catch is by lobster pots. Three types of pots are used: batten pots which are usually of wood; beehive pots made of cane or cane and wood; and mounded plastic pots. Strict regulations ensure the correct size of the pots as well as number and dimensions of escape hatches.

This Western Australian beehive lobster pot and float was acquired for the coastal section of the EcoLogic exhibition in 2001.

Margaret Simpson
Assistant Curator, Transport
November 2001

Lobster pot (beehive type), cane/ metal/ timber, made and used by Mr Tino Parotore, Western Australia, 2000

The beehive lobster pot is made of cane and strips of wood which have probably been steamed to produce a curved appearance. They are intertwined or woven over a frame of vertical metal strips. A piece of timber is attached to the flat base of the pot. Cane is used on the top and bottom of the pot and wood is used for the sides. The cane parts are woven like a basket and descend from the top into a narrow hole through which the polystyrene float or buoy passes. The short piece of hauling rope, attached to the bottom of the pot, was originally many metres in length. It was attached to a polystyrene float, which showed the fishermen the location of the lobster pot on the ocean surface. On the lower side of the pot is a triple escape hatch formed in a frame of metal from which the immature rock lobsters could escape. Some pots have the three escape gaps located around the pot, two on the sides and one opposite the hauling rope attachment. This particular pot has the three-segment escape gaps grouped together opposite the hauling rope attachment.

The beehive lobster pot was made by Mr Tino Paratore, a commercial lobster fisherman at his home in July 2000. It is made in the traditional way comprising woven cane for the top and bottom and steam-bent strips of local timber, possibly Jarrah, around the sides. Generally new pots are made by the fishers each season and the old ones are upgraded. The tradition of using the beehive pots is generally only continued by the Italian fishing families many of whom migrated to Australia two and three generations ago. It is usually the "Australian" fishers who use the plastic lobster pots while the Italian families continue to use the beehive pots.

The float is produced commercially and purchased by the fishermen who then scrape the number of their boat onto it.

The lobster pot was made and used for one season during 2000.

The lobster pot was used for one season by Mr Tino Parotore, a commercial lobster fisherman, on the boat he skippers, the Marco Polo. This cray boat is 58 feet (17.6 m) in length, 8 years old and is operated by a crew of three. According to the Western Australian Department of Fisheries list of pot licenses, the Marco Polo carries the registration F395. It is entitled to 120 lobster pots and has a pot usage of 98 to work in Zone C of the Fishery.

The Western Rock Lobsters live on the ocean bottom hiding in the rocks in the unpolluted cold waters off Western Australia stretching along a commercial fishing zone extending some 1,000 km. The fishing area in which the pot was used was in the Perth area between Mandurah and Two Rocks. Generally the boat would pull into Fremantle or Two rocks each day.

The pots are lowered to the ocean floor, between 15 to 40 metres, depending on the season when the lobsters may be closer in shore or further out. The location of the pot is marked by the polystyrene, float or buoy which is engraved or painted with the boat owner's registration number. The registration number of the "Marco Polo" is F395. The lobsters are attracted to the pot because of either the bait inside or by the chance to shelter. The type of bait used depended on the fishermen's preference. Some of these include salted beef hide, Orange Roughy (a type of reef fish from New Zealand), squid and mackerel. Once inside, the lobster of the correct size cannot turn around to escape, although those of immature size can. The lobster remains alive in the pot and once on board the boat is kept alive in special tanks containing circulating seawater run from the boat's engine. A usual catch would be 3 to 5 lobsters in each pot but it has been known to be as many as 20.

The live lobsters are then swiftly delivered to one of Lobster Australia's Western Australian processing plants at Fremantle or Lancelin or to other collection depots on the Western Australian coast and sent by road to either plant. Lobster Australia Pty Ltd, a Kailis & France Group company, markets and processes the Western Rock Lobster and has been doing so for over 50 years. They are the second largest lobster company in Australia and handle 2000 tones of lobster per annum. In addition to lobster, other seafood products include king crabs, spiny crabs, roe's abalone, tuna and swordfish are processed.

The lobsters are kept alive and purged in holding tanks for a minimum of three days. They are then graded for export, after which they are immobilized in a chilled environment and packed into polystyrene boxes, with ice packs and wood shavings to ensure they do not injure themselves. They are then air freighted to markets including Japan where they arrive alive. The weak lobsters or those missing legs will be processed at the Western Australian plants by being drowned in freshwater and either cooked or left raw. All the lobster is used, none is wasted. Even the heads are sent to Japan for making soup.

The Western Rock Lobster is commercially fished from 15 November to 30 June each year allowing for the stocks to replenish during the non-fishing period. The major markets are Taiwan, Japan, USA, Hong Kong/ China and Europe. The annual catch was 14.5 million kg in 1999/2000 and the commercial value is between $200-400 million.

Commercial Lobster Fishing

There are 595 licensed commercial boats working the Fishery, most in the 10 to 18-metre size range, working between 90 to 120 lobster pots each. The Western Rock Lobster Fishery is further regulated with seasonal restrictions, as well as size and gear limits. As a condition of their licenses, rock lobster fishers are required to keep a monthly record of their catch and fishing effort. Thirty to forty percent of fishers also keep voluntary logbooks recording daily catches. Monitoring of commercial operators is also undertaken by Fisheries WA whose staff board lobster boats. Despite the Western Rock Lobster Fishery being heavily exploited, it is intensively researched and managed to maintain the lobster population and sustainability yet the catch is increasing.

Recreational Lobster Fishing

The recreational lobster fishing is around 3 to 5 percent of the total catch and has a higher impact within regional and inshore areas. Most recreational lobster fishing occurs in the Perth metropolitan area and around Geralton. For the 1998/1999 season almost 33,000 recreational licenses were issued, each entitling the fisher to use two pots and catch a daily bag limited of eight lobsters. Provided there is at least two licensed persons on board, 16 lobsters can be taken per boat and a maximum of four pots per boat may be used. Pulling someone else's pots is illegal and can carry a hefty fine. Pots and floats are branded with the licensee's ID number. To determine the legal size of the Western Rock Lobster, the lobster's carapace or back is measured with a rock lobster gauge. The minimum legal size is between 76-77 mm. Female rock lobsters in breeding condition or carrying eggs at any time cannot be taken. Recreational divers can also take lobsters by hand, using crooks and snares but the use of spears and other pointed instruments is prohibited.

The lobster pot was acquired for the coastal component of the EcoLogic exhibition.

Gift of Tino Parotore, 2002

Marks to be checked when object removed from display

2002/10/1