Southern rock lobster and giant crab scientific stock assessment

⁠⁠⁠Under the Fisheries Act 1995, Fisheries Victoria is responsible for the protection and conservation of Victoria’s fisheries resources and for ensuring that the management and use of these resources is done in an efficient, effective and ecologically sustainable manner.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Marine and Estuarine Fisheries Management and Science Branch seek to engage the services of a suitably qualified and experienced provider to deliver scientific assessments of the Victorian rock lobster and giant crab fishery stocks. Stock assessments are required to inform the VFA’s regulatory decision-making obligations, which include setting sustainable commercial catch limits and ensuring the future productivity of these natural resources

The commercial rock lobster and giant crab fisheries are managed through a Quota Management System, which involves determining annual commercial catches based on the conditions in the fisheries. Assessments of the stock are vital to ensuring that the catch limits are set correctly.

Scope

The Victorian Fisheries Authority seeks to engage the services of a suitably qualified and experienced provider to deliver scientific assessments of the Victorian rock lobster and giant crab fishery stocks.

Scientific stock assessments are critical to modern fisheries management and describe the past and current status of a fish population and enable predictions regarding how a fishery will respond to current and future management measures. Stock assessments are required to inform the VFA’s regulatory decision-making obligations, which include setting sustainable commercial catch limits and ensuring the future productivity of these natural resources.