Problems facing the Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish include poaching and habitat loss, and these problems are exacerbated by the large lobsters slow reproductive rate. Although it is hard to count aquatic animals, research shows that there are about 100,000 lobsters left. Almost none of those are full grown, as the larger lobsters were mostly wiped out in the last century. In 1998, a ban was placed on the fishing of these lobsters. However, because of their slow reproduction rate and the fact that it takes up to 14 years for lobsters to reach sexual maturity have prevented the population from returning to its usual numbers. Larger lobsters that can reproduce are easily caught, making them threatened by illegal fishing, and young Tasmanian giant freshwater lobsters are threatened by habitat loss. This is caused by agricultural expansion, forestry operations and a decline in water quality. A recent increase in sedimentation blocks the crevices young lobsters need to hide from predators.