You Are Here: HOME > Media Releases
Media Releases
Mandurah crab catches up, but sector shares remain similar
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2009
The first 12 months of a three-year research program on Mandurah’s crabs have found increased catches by both recreational and commercial fishers and a significant change in the methods that recreational crabbers use to catch them.
Department of Fisheries Senior Research Scientist Dr Danielle Johnston said the latest data had revealed a 70 per cent increase in boat-based catch by recreational fishers, but significant drops in both shore-based scoop net and drop-net catches, since a survey a decade ago.
“Boat-based catches of blue swimmer crabs now account for 85 per cent of the recreational fishing, with only 11 per cent of fishers using scoop nets close to shore, 2.4 per cent using drop nets from jetties and one per cent fishing from canals and house boats,” Dr Johnston said.
“The latest data shows that 357 tonnes of crabs were fished by the recreational sector in 2007/08 (compared with 289 tonnes in 1998/99) and that the commercial sector harvested 90 tonnes (compared with 64 tonnes in 1998/99) so the relative take, or proportion, for both sectors remains at approximately 80:20 but the annual catch has risen by 94 tonnes.”
Dr Johnston said the majority of fishers that accessed the Peel-Harvey region’s iconic crab fishery now lived in the local area, whereas a decade ago the majority of crab fishers lived in the Perth metropolitan area and travelled to Mandurah to go fishing.
“The most recent survey was well-supported by those who took part, with our researchers getting an excellent response in the field, with log book programs and a mail survey of people living beside canals,” she said.
“Last year’s recreational survey forms part of a larger three-year research project to assess the status of the blue swimmer crab population in the Peel Harvey estuary, from which the most effective ongoing management arrangements can be evaluated.”
A two-month annual closure of the Peel Harvey crab fishery was introduced two years ago, to provide additional protection to blue swimmer stocks during September and October each year.
Since November 2007 recreational fishers have had a daily bag limit of 10 crabs per person and a boat limit of 20 crabs right across West Coast Bioregion (from Black Point, east of Augusta, to the Zuytdorp Cliffs, north of Kalbarri).
Details of all the rules that apply to crab fishing and other WA fisheries are available on the Department of Fisheries website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
Department of Fisheries Senior Research Scientist Dr Danielle Johnston said the latest data had revealed a 70 per cent increase in boat-based catch by recreational fishers, but significant drops in both shore-based scoop net and drop-net catches, since a survey a decade ago.
“Boat-based catches of blue swimmer crabs now account for 85 per cent of the recreational fishing, with only 11 per cent of fishers using scoop nets close to shore, 2.4 per cent using drop nets from jetties and one per cent fishing from canals and house boats,” Dr Johnston said.
“The latest data shows that 357 tonnes of crabs were fished by the recreational sector in 2007/08 (compared with 289 tonnes in 1998/99) and that the commercial sector harvested 90 tonnes (compared with 64 tonnes in 1998/99) so the relative take, or proportion, for both sectors remains at approximately 80:20 but the annual catch has risen by 94 tonnes.”
Dr Johnston said the majority of fishers that accessed the Peel-Harvey region’s iconic crab fishery now lived in the local area, whereas a decade ago the majority of crab fishers lived in the Perth metropolitan area and travelled to Mandurah to go fishing.
“The most recent survey was well-supported by those who took part, with our researchers getting an excellent response in the field, with log book programs and a mail survey of people living beside canals,” she said.
“Last year’s recreational survey forms part of a larger three-year research project to assess the status of the blue swimmer crab population in the Peel Harvey estuary, from which the most effective ongoing management arrangements can be evaluated.”
A two-month annual closure of the Peel Harvey crab fishery was introduced two years ago, to provide additional protection to blue swimmer stocks during September and October each year.
Since November 2007 recreational fishers have had a daily bag limit of 10 crabs per person and a boat limit of 20 crabs right across West Coast Bioregion (from Black Point, east of Augusta, to the Zuytdorp Cliffs, north of Kalbarri).
Details of all the rules that apply to crab fishing and other WA fisheries are available on the Department of Fisheries website at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
| < Previous | Top |
