The decrease in the Otago rock lobster take would ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery, Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy said when announcing new catch limits for lobster, scallops and surf clams.
''The new catch limits will take effect from 1 April and are based on the best available scientific information, as well as submissions received from tangata whenua and fishery stakeholders,'' Mr Guy said.
Allowances for Maori customary fishing and recreational interests remained unchanged.
Otago Rock Lobster Industry Association executive officer Simon Gilmour said research had shown there were many undersize lobsters in the Otago CRA.7 fishery because of the lift in recruits from 2009.
''This season is the first season of the rebuild of the fishery.''
If that happened as expected, the catch limit would increase for next season, he said.
CRA.7 had always been a cyclical fishery with mostly recruitment habitat, regular migration and periodic settlement.
''It was a poor season, but we knew it was coming.''
With a drop in allowable catch this season, the 12 to 14 boats which dedicated their winter to lobster fishing would have a ''significantly shorter'' season, Mr Gilmour said.
The association was also waiting to hear whether the range of changes to its fishery regulations would be approved by Mr Guy.
The changes mostly updated regulations to suit the demands of the market for lobster today such as changing packaging requirements so it could be sold live and be easily identified as an Otago lobster, he said.
It was also proposed the five-month season become a 12-month season as the catch limits preserved the fishery's sustainability today rather than the time allowed to fish.
''It'll mean we can target peak price markets like Chinese New Year, which we are locked out of as our season doesn't start till mid-June.''
They had also suggested recreational fisheries be able to take smaller-sized lobsters than the commercial fishery was. That meant lobsters from about 300g upwards could be caught by recreational fishermen instead of about 450g upwards.
However, it would be illegal to hold the smaller lobsters outside Otago.
