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Cockburn Sound crabbers get to fish for a feed after Minister lifts three-year ban
Date: Monday, 19 October 2009
Fisheries Minister Norman Moore today announced the reopening of Cockburn Sound to commercial and recreational crab fishers from December 15 following a three-year closure.
Mr Moore said crabbing in Cockburn Sound was banned in 2006 to allow overfished stocks to rebuild and ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery.
“That precautionary action has proved successful and we can now reopen the fishery. It will be open to crab fishers from December 15 this year to March 31, 2010,” he said.
“The length of the season will help the ongoing recovery of the blue swimmer crab population in Cockburn Sound. Fishers need to understand that it was excessive fishing as well as several years of poor recruitment in the fishery that led to the closure.”
Researchers say the adult stock of crabs has risen since the closure but the fishery needs close monitoring to ensure a balance between access to and sustainability of the fishery
The Minister said commercial crab fishers licensed to operate in Cockburn Sound would have to comply with increased size limits and reduced pot numbers.
“The commercial sector cannot take crabs smaller than 140mm across the widest part of the shell (up from 130mm),” he said.
“Professional fishers will also be subject to a 20 per cent reduction in the number of pots they can use.
“Recreational fishers must comply with the crab fishing rules that apply in all crab fishing areas in the West Coast Bioregion - which include a minimum size limit of 127mm, a bag limit of 10 crabs per fisher per day, and a boat limit of 20 crabs.”
Mr Moore said he had also made a decision not to extend the two-month seasonal closure in the Peel Harvey Estuary this year although research had indicated lower than usual numbers of juvenile crabs in the Peel Harvey Estuary.
“Catches will be closely monitored over summer to determine if management action will be required to address any sustainability concerns,” he said.
Recfishwest and the WA Fishing Industry Council will develop a resource sharing agreement for the fishery and are expected to provide the Minister with a report before the start of the next summer fishing season.
Minister's office - 9422 3000
Mr Moore said crabbing in Cockburn Sound was banned in 2006 to allow overfished stocks to rebuild and ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery.
“That precautionary action has proved successful and we can now reopen the fishery. It will be open to crab fishers from December 15 this year to March 31, 2010,” he said.
“The length of the season will help the ongoing recovery of the blue swimmer crab population in Cockburn Sound. Fishers need to understand that it was excessive fishing as well as several years of poor recruitment in the fishery that led to the closure.”
Researchers say the adult stock of crabs has risen since the closure but the fishery needs close monitoring to ensure a balance between access to and sustainability of the fishery
The Minister said commercial crab fishers licensed to operate in Cockburn Sound would have to comply with increased size limits and reduced pot numbers.
“The commercial sector cannot take crabs smaller than 140mm across the widest part of the shell (up from 130mm),” he said.
“Professional fishers will also be subject to a 20 per cent reduction in the number of pots they can use.
“Recreational fishers must comply with the crab fishing rules that apply in all crab fishing areas in the West Coast Bioregion - which include a minimum size limit of 127mm, a bag limit of 10 crabs per fisher per day, and a boat limit of 20 crabs.”
Mr Moore said he had also made a decision not to extend the two-month seasonal closure in the Peel Harvey Estuary this year although research had indicated lower than usual numbers of juvenile crabs in the Peel Harvey Estuary.
“Catches will be closely monitored over summer to determine if management action will be required to address any sustainability concerns,” he said.
Recfishwest and the WA Fishing Industry Council will develop a resource sharing agreement for the fishery and are expected to provide the Minister with a report before the start of the next summer fishing season.
Minister's office - 9422 3000
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