Bass Strait — Australian Seafood Guide

About Bass Strait

The shallow sea between Victoria and Tasmania — a shared fishing ground for southern rock lobster, scallops, abalone, and the offshore trawl fishery.

Catch & production

Volume: 12,000 t (2023)

Combined SESSF (flathead, scallops, gummy shark) and rock lobster.

Economic value

~$160M (2023)

Key facts

Major scallop fishery (Victoria & Tasmania)
Abalone diving on both sides
Important southern rock lobster zone

Top species caught here

Tiger Flathead

~35% of catch

Tiger Flathead — Bass Strait is the dominant supply region.

Australian Scallops

rock-lobster

Fleet & ports

Fleet profile

Vessels: 95

Workers (approx): 600

Home ports: Lakes EntranceApollo BayTriabunnaEden

Key fishing ports

Lakes Entrance — Largest commercial port on Victorian coast.
Apollo Bay — Lobster and finfish.
Eden (NSW) — Southern terminal for Bass Strait operations.

Processors, co-ops & markets

South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association

coop

Lakes Entrance Fishermen's Cooperative

coop

Historical timeline

1915
Commercial trawling begins in Bass Strait.
1981
Bass Strait Scallop Fishery enters management framework.
1992
Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) consolidated.
2018
Scallop stocks show recovery under rotational closures.

Cultural & heritage significance

Bass Strait is the most significant shared fishing zone in Australia — straddling Victoria and Tasmania, jointly managed by the Commonwealth (AFMA). The Lakes Entrance fleet is a multi-generational fishing community. The strait is also the home water for the iconic Tiger Flathead.

Visitor experiences

Lakes Entrance fish-and-chip trail — Generations-old port culture
Apollo Bay seafood festival — Annual February

Sources cited on this page

Australian fisheries and aquaculture statistics 2023 — ABARES (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry), 2024
Annual statistical compendium covering volume, value, exports, employment.
Harvest strategies for Commonwealth fisheries — Australian Fisheries Management Authority, 2024
Status of Australian Fish Stocks Reports 2024 — Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, 2024
National stock assessment covering 100+ species across Commonwealth and state jurisdictions.