The Tasmanian commercial dive fishery selectively harvests three key species by hand from small vessels. The fishery has traditionally harvested two native species – shortspined sea urchin (Heliocidaris erythrogramma) and wavy periwinkles (Lunella undulata) – but has grown exponentially in recent years by harvesting range-extending longspined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii).

The urchin fishery operates almost year-round because the two urchin species spawn at different times of year, so each can be harvested when the roe quality peaks before spawning.

The fishery has been operating since the mid-1980s, was formalised with a management plan in 2005, and remains predominately owner-operated today with around 53 licences.