The new season for the Victorian southern rock lobster fishery opens for both commercial and recreational fishers on Monday, 16 November 2009.

Executive Director of Fisheries Victoria, Anthony Hurst, said the lobster fishery across southern Australia has encountered some challenges in recent years.

"We have worked hard to secure Commonwealth approval for the industry to export lobsters for another five years," Mr Hurst said. "This action builds on the recently completed $5 million western zone structural adjustment program which has improved industry viability.

"Fisheries Victoria also sent two members of the rock lobster industry to a recent National Congress to help support industry development. Southern rock lobster is a premium seafood product that commands high domestic and export prices."

The rock lobster fishery is Victoria's second most valuable fishery with most of the product exported live to Asia and it employs more than 200 people across regional Victoria.

Recreational fishers also enjoy catching lobsters.

"Fisheries Victoria, in close collaboration with South Australia, Tasmania, CSIRO and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation has secured funding for a two year investigation into the status of rock lobster stocks across southern Australia," Mr Hurst said.

"The study will look at the reasons behind the rock lobster catch changes and possible links with changing environmental conditions and assess the implications for management."

The bag limit for recreational rock lobster fishers remains at two rock lobsters per day for the coming season.

The minimum legal size for both commercial and recreational fishers remains unchanged at 10.5 cm and 11.0 cm carapace length for females and males respectively.

Commercial rock lobster fishers are allowed to leave port at 9.00 am on Sunday, 15 November, to set their pots on the fishing grounds, but pots must not be hauled until the start of the season on 16 November.