Rock Lobster Fishing in Australia
If you think you’re tough enough to do , here’s what you need to know…
About the job
The December and January period is the busiest in the Australian fishing calendar. From 15/20th of January the lobster population of Western Australia migrate up the coast and the fishermen chase them. It is a constant battle to catch enough lobster and boats can haul in up to 2 tonnes a day.
The commercial fishing industry mostly works on a share of catch arrangement, where all crew share in the value of the catch. As the rock lobster industry is lucrative, this can often mean deck hand wages can range from AUD 50,000-70,000 (£28,000-40,000).
The work is very physically hard labour. In the programme, the pots weighed 70kg each and there were 180 to pull up every day for each boat. The work is relentless and can start in the middle of the night, so you need to be prepared for a real challenge. There are also restrictions on areas that can be fished, as well as a total ban on Rock Lobster fishing along the Southern Coast between May and October. Female Rock Lobsters carrying eggs are also protected and are returned to the water immediately. For more information on this, please visit
The Southern Coast is also a major hub for the Rock Lobster industry, with a significant impact on the area. For more information on the industry there, please visit
Jade, Callum and Luke
Getting there
Costs
- Flights (both ways) from London to Perth are: £700- £1000 roughly. If you book far enough in advance, you can get one-way flights from London to Australia for as little as £550, but this can vary significantly and you will need to factor in possible connecting flights on both sides. You will also need sufficient funds to return, or a return flight booked, and may need to prove this upon entry to Australia.
- Working Holiday Visa: £235 (AUD 420)
- Travel insurance: £170 (approximate amount based on four months in Australia - amount will vary depending on provider, level of cover, and length of stay. You must make sure that it covers the sort of work you may be doing).
- ACRO Police Certificate: £45
- Living expenses : £2800 (AUD 5000) to support yourself, and you may need to prove you have these funds available to you. Please note this is based on the visa requirements only, you will need to do more research into accommodation and other living expenses in your chosen area of work to determine how much you will need for the initial stage of your holiday.
Visa
- Visit for all the information you need on visas.
- Working Holiday Visas are open to UK citizens aged 18-30. For these visas, the purpose of your visit must be a holiday where you may end up working rather than the other way round. Find more information about these visas .
- These visas are valid for up to 12 months and you may work for this entire period, but you are limited to working a maximum of 6 months with any one employer.
- For the Australian Government to determine whether you are of good character, you may be asked to provide police certificates for each country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years since turning 16. Find more information .
- You will need a police background check certificate which you can apply for at .
Health Insurance
- If you are a British citizen you will be eligible for some essential medical treatments whilst visiting Australia, but this is not designed to replace private travel insurance covering health costs. Find more information .
Passport
- You will need a valid passport for the length of your stay. Australian Immigration state that they prefer it to be valid for at least six months, so it would be a good idea to ensure your passport is valid for the length of your stay plus an additional six months.
Meet the Workers
This information was correct at time of writing on 24/07/14 but you should check with relevant authorities and companies as costs and requirements can change at any time.
Remember local taxes may apply and that your earnings may affect your UK tax position and any benefits you may be entitled to.
