Torres Strait beche-de-mer (BDM) fishers and fish receivers are being reminded of their requirement to report all catch on catch disposal records and return to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority within the mandated timeframe.

CSIRO will be conducting a pre-season Kaiar abundance survey over the neap tides between the 3rd and 20th November 2024.

The 2024-25 fishing season for the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery (TRL Fishery) will commence on 1 December 2024. Key management arrangements that will apply this season are detailed here.

The tropical rock lobster (Kaiar) season will be open until 30 September 2025, or until available quota units have been caught.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) will be closed during our end-of-year office shutdown period from close of business on Tuesday, 24 December 2024. Our services return on Thursday, 2 January 2025. During this time, any urgent enquiries should be directed to the AFMA Duty Officer on 02 6275 5818. If your matter is not urgent, please contact us from Thursday, 2 January 2025.

The 2025 Torres Strait black teatfish season opens on 3 March with a total allowable catch (TAC) of 22 tonnes (updated 25 February). The earlier opening date for the 2025 season was selected in consultation with Torres Strait Traditional Inhabitants. In 2024, the total black teatfish catch was about 16 tonnes when the season closed on 2 May. This was lower than expected due to unfavourable weather, which made fishing difficult and dangerous at times.