The catches of Australia’s rock lobster fisheries are at or near their maximum level. However, adding value to the rocklobster catch will ensure continuing and improved returns for industry. This can be achieved by way of enshrining maximum quality on delivery to the processing factories, maximum survival of live lobsters shipped to overseas destinations, perfect cooking regimes for the portion of the product processed for this market either in Australia or overseas, the maximum recovery during processing, and a continuous maintenance and upgrading of handling conditions, maintaining and improving health and safety conditions, and having respect for community welfare concerns.

The purpose of the Subprogram is to work with industry to identify the opportunities and priorities to enhance products and profitability and to assist industry meet these challenges. It then seeks to identify and support the research needed to provide answers to permit industry to grasp these opportunities, in a cost effective and timely manner. The outcomes of the research are rapidly provided to industry in a form that allows industry to capture the benefits of the research for the Australian industry. Of special importance is the need for the Subprogram to co-ordinate research effort, eliminate duplication of applications and ensure that projects are relevant.

The global market for lobsters now demands Australia to compete effectively in these markets, and the subprogram assists in ensuring that there is capacity to achieve this to allow the industry to maintain and improve its competitive advantage.