Rock lobster are caught commercially using baited pots. Once caught, most are held in temperature-controlled aquaria before being airfreighted “live” to export markets.

New Zealand's spiny rock lobster fishery is managed by strict quotas which allow only a set amount of spiny rock lobster to be taken commercially each year.

The fishery is also controlled by size restrictions: for a lobster to be of legal size, the width between the primary spines on the second segment of the tail must be greater than 54mm for a male lobster and 60mm for a female.