live around and in reefs in the ocean that range in depth from the oceans’ surface of five to two hundred seventy-five meters.

The harvesting of spiny rock lobsters makes up more than 20% of Australia’s total fishing industry, with an annual catch of approximately 8,000 – 15,000 tons of spiny rock lobster. The estimated value of the 2003-2004 spiny rock catch was around $248 million AUS.

An interesting and commendable feature of fisheries in Australia is that these were the first fisheries to be certified as ecologically sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. This means that the harvesting and processing of spiny rock has no deleterious results for the animals, flora or other environmental areas.

For the most part the carnivorous spiny rock lobsters of New Zealand and Australia are a dark red color with hints of orange, or more completely orange, and have somewhat more pale and yellow colored abdomen portions.

To find out more about the rock fisheries in Western Australia, why not visit the Commercial Fisheries pages at the Australian Department of Fisheries website, at http://www.fish.wa.gov.au.


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