Torres Strait and Western Province Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery Management Plan.

The Torres Strait and Western Province tropical rock lobster fishery management plan applies to a species of the family Palinuiridae, specifically the ornate or tropical rock lobster Panulirus ornatus. In addition, this plan applies to the tropical rock lobster fishery in the Torres Strait Protected Zone under the jurisdiction of the State of Papua New Guinea, Western Province and the Gulf of Papua and includes all activities associated with the catching, transshipment, processing, storage, buying, selling and exporting of tropical rock lobster products. The objectives of this management plan are: (I) to strengthen fishery management to ensure that the stock size would be maintained annually at a level that will give maximum sustainable economic yield, (II) to optimize the benefits of the traditional users, particularly the traditional inhabitants of the Torres Strait Protected Zone, (III) to implement policies to enhance the participation of traditional users, and (IV) to manage the fishery with a precautionary approach. This Plan lays down management measures including licensing, minimum size limits, prohibited gears, total allowable catch, prohibitions for export, and reporting requirements.