Cockburn Sound crab fishers reap benefits from revised management system-Fisheries Dept media release
Friday, 10 December 2010

Crab fishers will benefit this summer from the continuing improvement in blue swimmer stocks in Cockburn Sound.

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said it was encouraging to see crab stocks recovering well after a three-year total ban on crab fishing was replaced last Summer by a limited three and half month fishing season.

“The fishery’s continuing recovery has enabled me to extend the coming recreational season by an extra month,” Mr Moore said.

“Recreational crab fishing in Cockburn Sound will run from December 15 until the end of April, 2011. This extension will enable recreational fishers to enjoy the pastime during Easter next year.

“The commercial crab fishing season in Cockburn Sound will remain the same (December 15 – March 31), but for those fishers I have reduced the minimum size of blue swimmers they can catch to 135mm carapace width (down from 140mm).”

Mr Moore said Department of Fisheries’ researchers had monitored Cockburn Sound’s crab stocks and noted a slow increase in recruitment prior to this year. However, 2010 had delivered much higher counts of juvenile crabs.

“We must manage the sustainability of the fishery, so that generations to come can build their own great memories of fishing for crabs in Cockburn Sound,” Mr Moore said.

“It is also important commercial operators can maximise the fishery’s economic value.”

When fishing for crabs in Cockburn Sound, recreational fishers must comply with the crab fishing rules that apply in all areas of the West Coast Bioregion.

Recreational fishing rules - available on a special flyer - ‘Crabbing for blue swimmer crabs in the West Coast Region’ - include a minimum size limit of 127mm carapace width, a bag limit of 10 crabs per fisher per day, and a boat limit of 20 crabs.

The flyer is online at www.fish.wa.gov.au and available through Department of Fisheries’ offices and information outlets.