Tasmania Season updates, know the rules before you go!
by Department of NRE Tasmania 12 Sep 05:53 UTC
Season dates and harvest strategy consulation © Department of NRE Tasmania
Season closures
The following closures are currently in effect from 1 September - 31 October 2025 inclusive.
- North Coast - Squid and calamari
- Statewide - Striped trumpeter
- Western Region - Rock lobster (male)
Rock lobster season is now closed statewide until new season opens.
Upcoming season dates
Don't forget to keep an eye on upcoming season closures:
- South-East - Squid and calamari: Closed 15 October - 14 November 2025 inclusive.
- Southern Waters - Garfish: Closed 15 November - 14 December 2025 inclusive.
Season dates
New rock lobster season dates
Note: These dates also apply to giant crab
2025 rock lobster (crayfish) season open dates:
- Waters outside the East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone (ECSRZ)
OPEN from Saturday 1 November 2025.
- East Coast Stock Rebuilding Zone
OPEN from Saturday 6 December 2025.
2026 rock lobster (crayfish) season close dates:
- Eastern Region (including ECSRZ)
CLOSED from Friday 1 May 2026
- Western Region (females)
CLOSED from Friday 1 May 2026
- Western Region (males)
CLOSED from Tuesday 1 September 2026
Why do we have season closures?
In Tasmania, seasonal closures help support sustainable fishing—so we can keep enjoying healthy fisheries for years to come.
We close some fisheries for part of the year to:
Protect fish while they spawn (breed)
- Spawning is when fish reproduce. If we want more fish in the future, it's important that we help the current fish spawn successfully.
- Some fish, like calamari, gather in large groups when they spawn. This makes them easier to catch—and easier to over-fish by accident.
- By closing fisheries during spawning, we give these species a better chance to reproduce without being disturbed by fishing.
We try to align spawning closures to the best available data on spawning seasons. If you've seen lots of evidence of spawning outside of a closure period, email with the species, time of year and location.
Reduce how many fish are caught
- Season closures can help prevent overfishing of popular species. By making a species off-limits for part of the year, it can reduce how much gets taken.
- This gives us a tool to manage catch in recreational fisheries other than changing bag limits or size limits.
Closures happen at specific times and in specific areas, based on what a fishery needs.
Every fishery is unique. While seasonal closures can work well in some fisheries, sometimes other management tools are better for the fishery.