Hope rock lobster on Victorian menus as exports to China remain at a standstill

But as few as three boats in Portland set their crayfish pots ahead of Monday's Victorian rock lobster season opening, five less than last year, a fisherman said.

It's because live product from other states was unable to clear Chinese airports this month, with China Australia's biggest rock lobster export market and fears the product is caught in a trade dispute.

Port Campbell rock lobster fisherman Simon Nash said he would set 77 pots on Sunday.

In the past Mr Nash would sell his catch on to China, but this year he planned to sell what he could to Port Campbell's pubs, restaurants and Warrnambool's Allfresh Seafood.

He expects the price to drop, but also hopes it will remain high enough so it's viable for him to fish his season's quota.

"Where we are headed to now would be 30 or 25 per cent of last year's turnover. It is absolutely dire," Mr Nash said.

"Hopefully more people are willing to have a crack at a cray because they're all but half price."

Warrnambool Allfresh Seafood manager Peter Rodgers said it was unknown whether the price for consumers would drop yet.

"The processors like ourselves we still have tanks to run. We haven't determined a beach price yet," Mr Rodgers said.

He said between $60 and $70 a kilo would be considered cheap, with the price being known to increase to $120 at Christmas when China was also buying.

"Some of the fisherman, if they aren't going to get a decent price, they won't fish," Mr Rodgers said.

Portland rock lobster fisher David McCarthy said he was among three boats setting pots out at sea on Sunday to test the market, but was skeptical enough sales would be made domestically.

"We are just going to go and catch some and see how we fair," he said. "There's no confidence in the domestic market."

Victorian Rock Lobster Association president Markus Nolle said he had told fishers to "operate with a lot of caution".

"Some views of those who are close to the operation on the ground are feeling it's not something that is going to be resolved anytime soon," Mr Nolle said.

He said the association was working to increase the appeal of rock lobsters for Victorians to consume. "It's an education thing, how do you buy it, how do you cook it and how do you serve it?"

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