Tasmania’s rock lobster industry says the toxin-forced closure of east coast fisheries this weekend will have a financial impact.
Commercial and recreational rock lobster fisheries in the Maria Island biotoxin zone from Wineglass Bay to Marion Bay will be closed from midnight after elevated levels of paralytic shellfish toxins were detected on a marine farm in the Mercury Passage.
The fishery will be closed so lobster can be taken and tested for the toxins.
The reopening of the fishery will depend on the test results.
John Sansom from the Rock Lobster Fishermans Association said the commercial season would close at the end of this month.
“If the levels recorded are negative or low, we will probably reopen next weekend,” Mr Sansom said.
“In a sense we’re probably lucky that it’s getting towards the end of the season, however lost fishing time is lost fishing time and it’s very hard to make up.
“Prices are still rather good at the moment and that’s why people are still fishing. I mean, catches may not be all that high but the value’s still there in the product.”
2015 ABC