I think there are about 240 licences. I'm not sure how many operators there are, because I don't know how many do stack. Like you said, it's either 300 traps for a single licence, or 500 traps for a double licence. This fishery is very important to fisheries businesses.
As a younger harvester, last year it was at least a third to half of my income. Given the way fisheries are now, we have to be diverse. Taking the value out of a fishery like this really hurts my career as a fisherman as whole, not just in this fishery, because what I gain in value from prawns for my business pays for my upgrading into other fisheries, as well. It spills over, so that I am a more well-rounded career fisherman.