The Western Rock Lobster industry is the single most valuable fishery in all of Australia representing about 20% of the total value of Australia's fisheries, with an export value of over $300 million per annum. The Industry catch is on average double the combined intake of the South Australian and New Zealand lobster species.

In the past the season operated from mid November until the end of June, of which the total industry intake for the 2008/09 season was 8500 metric tonne. In order to obtain this catch there are an estimated 500 fishing boats and 69,000 lobster pots that are in operation along the coast of Western Australia, spanning from Cape Leeuwin to Shark Bay.

The Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus Cygnus) is most commonly referred to as the spiny Rock Lobster and is covered with sharp thorny spines and short bristles. These lobsters have long feelers on the antennae and horns over the eyes as opposed to claws, and reside in the rocky habitats of the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean.

New changes have been implemented for the 2010 / 11 season and a quota system has been emplaced. The season will extend for two months to run until August 2011 for all zones. This will give the fishers greater flexibility to decide when to take their catch. The total allowable industry catch is now 5,500 tonnes. These measures have been taken by the Department of Fisheries to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.