In the coastal town of St Helens, commercial rock lobster fishing is still a key contributor to the local economy.
Rock lobster fisher Adam Johnson had hoped his children could follow in his footsteps, but a proposed change to how the industry operates has him worried about the future.
"We've seen the rock lobster industry halve in the last 20-odd years, I don't really want to see it get any less if we can help it," he said.
At the moment, bigger rock lobster boats carrying 60 pots are only able to fish off the west coast.
The government is now proposing to expand that, to include the north-west, and north-east.
Because there are also catch caps, smaller operators with 50 or fewer pots are worried the bigger boats — which can operate in tougher conditions — will trigger the cap faster.
That could shorten the season, forcing smaller operators to go further afield at higher cost, into unfamiliar and possibly dangerous territory.
Fellow fisher Daymin Johnson — no relation — said the change could exacerbate the existing "race to fish" mentality.
"Boats that can carry 60 pots are going to be bigger, so they'll put longer trips in, they can work any weather as opposed to the 40 footers and the 35 footers that obviously as soon as the weather cracks up they come home," Daymin Johnson said.
The St Helens rock lobster fleet has already shrunk dramatically over the years.
Break O'Day Mayor Mick Tucker is strongly opposed to the change — in the council's submission to the government he labelled it reactive, ill-advised and inequitable.
The former commercial fisherman is worried if the change is made as proposed, the local industry will further contract, ultimately impacting local services and the town's economy.
"You've got to look at the economic net benefit to a community as well when we're talking about a community, Tasmanian-owned resource," Mr Tucker said.
The Break O'Day Council has called for an in-depth analysis of the economic and social risks.
Bass Labor MP Janie Finaly is also worried.
"There is no research that's been undertaken to support this decision, there has been no research undertaken to understand the economic or social impacts of the decision," Ms Finlay said.
"It feels like the outcome of this decision will support the larger fishers and the investors. It feels like there's been no care or consideration for the small local fishers."
Despite the concerns raised by smaller operators, the body representing the industry, the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishers Association, is strongly pushing for the change.
The association's chief executive, former state government minister Rene Hidding, said expanding the 60-pot zone was the association's formal policy.
He said smaller operators enjoyed substantial cost advantages by not employing deckhands and having lower fuel expenses.
"The proposed new rules outcome is aimed at those vessels that travel into fishing zones well out of the reach of the smaller vessels, such as above Flinders Island," Mr Hidding said.
"Those larger fishing vessels pay high fuel costs for 18 hours of steaming just to arrive at those fishing grounds.
Primary Industries Minister Jo Palmer said with the rules governing the industry set to expire later this year, they needed to be remade.
Ms Palmer said her department was considering feedback from public consultation, and she was yet to receive any recommendations.
"I will consider these recommendations before making a decision on the proposed changes," Ms Palmer said.
