Year-round fishing for lobster will be permitted in the majority of South Australian waters for the first time since the 1960s.

Restrictions on fishing in the Northern Zone will be lifted in 2022.

The so-called annual winter fishing ban lasting five months was due to run from May 31 until November 1 and apply to the seas north of the Murray Mouth and around Kangaroo Island.

However, Fisheries Minister David Basham has used his legislated powers to approve the extension.

His decision was published in the South Australian Government Gazette on Thursday.

The additional flexibility in fishing will assist the industry which lost the lucrative Chinese market in 2020 owing to a trade ban.

Winter closures in the Southern and Northern Zones were introduced over 50 years ago with one of the reasons given being to prevent over-fishing.

At the time of the winter fishing ban in 1968, there were 324 lobster boats in the Southern Zone alone and this was more than double the current number.

Over-fishing is no longer possible as the lobster fishery has been managed by quotas for over 25 years.

The total allowable catch is set by the Fisheries Minister each year and catch rates and other scientific data are taken into account.

Industry insiders state Southern Zone fishing is unlikely in the winter months owing to the rough seas.