PIRSA 2164 - SARDI is responsible for collating fishery dependant data in the Southern Zone rock lobster fishery of South Australia to produce an annual stock assessment for the fishery which is presented annually to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture as part of the total allowable commercial catch setting process.

This project is designed to provide fishery independent data. The survey outputs provide spatially-explicit fishery-independent catch rate estimates of both legal and undersized (pre-recruit) rock lobsters. The data attained are required as part of the stock assessment of the fishery.

The survey design consists of 29 transects, that run from inshore (~10m) to offshore (~120m) grounds. Each transect line consists of 10 pots set at predetermined locations that are independent of known fishing effort. Sampling is undertaken during late September and January of each season. All lobsters are sexed, measured, staged (females only), tagged and released.

The 29 transects are divided into 5 surveys - four transects of 60 pots (6 lines with 10 pots) and one transect of 50 pots (5 lines with 10 pots). Each contractor will be required to complete one survey. This survey is conducted twice annually by SARDI.