Western Australian Rock Lobster
In early 2000, SCS issued a certification to the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council for the Western Australia rock lobster fishery. This certification was the first MSC-certified product from any fishery worldwide.
The SCS certification of Western Australia rock lobster included evaluations in three major areas:
- The overall fisheries management structure in Western Australia
- The health of the fishery resources
- The impacts from fishing on the associated ecosystem
The evaluation team found that the Western Australian rock lobster fishery met or exceeded the MSC Principles and Criteria. However, there were some instances where the team found the need for improvements. Through joint discussions, SCS reached a working agreement with the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council and the Western Australia Department of Fisheries to make improvements in several areas over the coming years.
The evaluation of the Western Australia rock lobster fishery identified good management practices and also helped identify areas where industry and government could work together. Together, both groups were able to make further improvements to maintain the established excellence in Western Australia fisheries management.
Certification Reports
