Auckland and Kermadec Fishery Management Area
Rock Lobster
Daily limit
No person may take or possess more than 6 rock lobsters (both species combined) on any one day.
Minimum sizes
No person may take or possess
- Male red rock lobster with a tail width less than 54 mm.
- Female red rock lobster with a tail width less than 60 mm.
- Packhorse rock lobster (either sex) with a tail length less than 216 mm.
Possession
Rock lobster may not be possessed seaward of the high water mark in an unmeasurable state.
Protected rock lobster
The following types of rock lobster must be returned immediately to the water:
- Undersized rock lobsters.
- Any rock lobster carrying external eggs (these are carried between the pleopods on the underside of the tail).
- Any rock lobster in the soft shell stage.
- Any rock lobster that cannot be measured (e.g. because of damage to the tail preventing accurate measurement).
It is an offence to remove external eggs or egg bearing appendages from any rock lobster.
General restrictions
It is an offence to:
- Use a spear or any device which could puncture the shell when taking rock lobster, or possess any rock lobster which has been speared.
- Set a rock lobster pot unless the pot and the surface float are permanently and legibly marked with the fisher’s initials and surname.
- Set or possess a rock lobster pot unless it has an escape gap as detailed in the “ESCAPE GAPS FOR ROCK LOBSTER POTS” section.
- It is not permitted to use lasso’s to catch rock lobster.
Rock lobster pots
limits:
- Individuals may use, set, or possess up to three rock lobster pots in any one day.
- Two or more individuals fishing from a vessel may use, set, or possess up to six rock lobster pots in any one day.
- Mimiwhangata Peninsular – one pot per person per vessel.
- Bobs and ring pots can be used to catch rock lobster. They are exempted from escape gap requirements but all other requirement (size, pot limits) remain.
Escape gaps restrictions
- Round or beehive shaped pots must have at least 3 escape gaps/or apertures (other than the mouth). Each aperture must have an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm.
- Square or rectangular shaped pots must have at least 2 escape gaps/or apertures (other than the mouth) in opposite faces of the pot. Each aperture shall not be less than 80% of the height or length of the face of the pot in which the apertures are contained. Each aperture shall have an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm.
- Any rock lobster pot constructed entirely of unaltered spot welded mesh with inside dimensions of 54 mm x 140 mm does not have to have escape gaps/or apertures but the pots must be used without covers or liners or with covers or liners that leave unencumbered at least 80% of the surface area of each of 2 opposite sides.
- No escape gap or aperture shall be incorporated in either the top or the bottom of any pot.
- Escape gaps or apertures are designed to allow undersized rock lobster to escape.
How to measure a red rock lobster
The tail width is measured in a straight line between the tips of the two large (primary) spines on the segment of the tail, as shown in the diagram which follows:
The sex is easily determined:
- Females have small pincers on the rear pair of legs.
- Pleopods are in paired form on each side of the underside of female tails, and are in single form in male tails.
If you are unsure of the sex, use the 60 mm measurement and you will be safe.
How to measure a packhorse rock lobster
The tail length is measured along the underside in a straight line from the rear of the calcified bar on the first segment to the tip of the middle fan of the tail.