The Otago rock lobster industry has crawled through one of its most difficult seasons in recent memory.
The Ministry of Fisheries halved the 2010-11 quota for the area covering Waitaki to the Nuggets from 209 tonnes to 104.5 tonnes.
That resulted in just 12 commercial boats fishing out of Moeraki, Karitane, Careys Bay and Taieri Mouth, compared with 18 last season.
"It's been a tough season," executive officer for the area Simon Gilmour said.
"It's not a case of the fish not being there. We only had 9 tonnes landed in October, but we had 20 in November. That poor October really hurt. One month out of a five-month season when you're not potting doesn't help.
"You do get periods fishing when the fish aren't interested in the bait. If there's enough natural food, they're not going to climb into the pot."
The Otago season also had a slow start because of a later-than-normal moulting inshore, he said.
"We also have a small, rocky shore habitat so, as a result, there's not a big resident population here. But things are looking very good for the future. By limiting the size of the catch and leaving more fish in the water, we have an opportunity to have a stable catch in three or four years, rather than a cyclical one," Mr Gilmour said.
"But we have to accept catches are not going to be as great for a couple of years."
The Otago rock lobster industry was worth between $8 million and $10 million last year, employing 60 fishers and processors.
Fiordland Lobster Company at Sawyers Bay processed 156 tonnes last season.
This season's reduced quota meant the factory had to reduce its staff from 13 to eight, manager Euan MacDougall said.
"It's one of the toughest years we've had in some time. It's certainly the toughest we've had in the last seven or eight years."
"They've been a good size this season. The fish quality has been very good. But we've been short on quota. At best estimate, we'll be 12 tonnes down," he said.
The Otago rock lobster season started on June 1 and finished last Friday.
