Peel Harvey crab closure period begins tomorrow

The Peel Harvey Inlet will be closed to recreational and commercial crab fishing for two months from tomorrow (Saturday, 1 September).

Department of Fisheries Principal Management Officer, Nathan Harrison said the closure was part of a range of new management measures designed to provide additional protection for blue swimmer stocks in the popular Mandurah waterway.

“In recent years, recreational crab fishers have been reporting smaller catches and it is important that a precautionary approach is adopted to protect this highly valuable natural resource,” Mr Harrison said.

“To help develop a better understanding of the Peel Harvey blue swimmer crab population, a $600,000 research program has been established to gather vital data over the next 12 months.

“We will also be evaluating the effect of the September/October closure to establish what sort of management measures will be needed for the long term sustainability of this and other crab fisheries in Western Australia.

“Our researchers will be continuing their work over the closure period.”
Mr Harrison said the Department was conducting an awareness campaign, with signs, posters, flyers and advertising to remind fishers of the closure.

“Our Fisheries and Marine officers will also be running regular patrols of the Peel Harvey estuary to make sure fishers are complying with the all fishing rules,” he said.

“Recreational fishers should also note that, to reduce pressure on blue swimmer stocks, a new daily bag limit of 10 crabs and boat limit of 20 crabs will apply as of 1 November across the West Coast Region (where a crab fishery is not subject to a specific closure).

“The West Coast region - which extends from Black Point, east of Augusta, to the Zuytdorp Cliffs, north of Kalbarri - is our State’s most popular fishing area, attracting almost 80 per cent of WA’s recreational fishers, so there has been growing pressure on crab stocks.”

More details are available from the Department of Fisheries website www.fish.wa.gov.au