Tonnes of live lobsters were held up at Chinese airports this week with the Australian government working to resolve the impasse.

China reportedly said the hold up was due to it testing the product for heavy metals, but some fear it could be a new development in a trade feud.

The affected catch is from interstate, but with less than two weeks before the Victorian season is due to start south-west fishers are cautiously watching the situation unfold.

Portland rock lobster fisherman David McCarthy said he was hopeful it would resolve in coming days otherwise he would unlikely put pots in the water for the season start on November 15.

"If the processors can't send fish to China then the local market can't absorb all the fish," he said.

"It has the potential to be absolutely devastating."

With almost all of Victoria's rock lobster exported, mostly to China, the season came to a grinding halt in January after the coroanvirus shut down demand during the season's busiest period.

"When the coronavirus started, we tossed all the crays over the side and brought the pots home," Mr McCarthy said.

"Whether this is a flicker in time or it becomes permanent, we don't know."

Victorian Rock Lobster Association president Markus Nolle said the uncertainty was challenging for fishers preparing for the coming season.

"They have to get their boats ready, buy bait, fuel and get crew onboard," Mr Nolle said.

"If the processors are saying 'don't go fishing because I can't buy the product', that means the fishermen are in tight spot."

The Apollo Bay-based fisher said the coming days would be crucial for confidence in the season ahead.

"All we know is that the shipments have been held up. There are allegedly some new processes to clear the shipments through customs and that is now creating delays," Mr Nolle said.

"For fisherman who have gone without pay and gone a couple of months without fishing, they have to ask themselves some serious questions on what happens next.

"We have had shutdowns in the past, but this one is a bit nasty because it's come on the back of a tough year. It's not entirely unprecedented to have these market shutdowns, what would be unprecedented would be for a prolonged amount of time."

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