The Western Rock Lobster Council's Strategic Plan 2017-2021 identifies the need to have a far greater understanding of markets in order to achieve at least one of its Objectives: VIZ: "The WRL industry is professionally managed to sustain its economic contribution to the WA economy." The stated Strategy to achieve the Objective is to:- "Collaborate and invest in targeted research for future resource security", of which one of the priority tactics is to:- "Invest in improving understanding and analysis of market, trade and industry data, broader trends and impacts for the WRL industry."

There is a clear understanding by the industry that it needs to have market intelligence if it is to remain economically sustainable, reduce its risk and improve overall income and profitability. Rock lobster export data from the FRDC trade database (from figures supplied by AQIS (Biosecurity Australia)) shows that over 90% of WRL exports are sent to Viet Nam, worth $396million to December 2016 with just $3million of exports to China and $15million of exports to Hong Kong. We know that the Vietnamese data figures almost entirely end up as Chinese consumption, but the exact final destination for the mass of lobster is largely unknown beyond the importer and some wholesalers. Data privately collected by exporters is generally unavailable to industry, or produced in a form that prevents in-depth analysis of the potential for expansion. This data will be sought in the project, but the project needs to make provision for independent collection and certainly of verification of such data.

The information gathered from this project will be for the WRLC. Through this project the WRLC will provide industry and members with market information including current trends in as close to real time as possible. The WRLC will take on responsibility and create a market dashboard to better inform its members. The WRLC can also provide information from this project to the TACC Subcommittee in order for the subcommittee to provide evidence-based advice on future TACC settings for the rock lobster commercial sectors.