Good news for Cockburn Crabbers
Cockburn Sound crab stocks continue to recover
Continuing improvement in recruitment and stability of crab stocks in Cockburn Sound has led to a further easing in restrictions there, since the crab fishery was reopened two years ago.
Department of Fisheries’ Principal Management Officer (Southern Bioregions) Dr Kim Walshe said recreational fishers would have a longer season and a range of changes to assist commercial fishers would come into force, when the new crab season begins in the Sound in mid-December.
“The decision to close the crab fishery in Cockburn Sound between 2006 and 2009 is paying dividends, with researchers reporting a much improved status for both juvenile and older blue swimmer crabs which allows for the easing of some of the restrictions,” he said.
“We need to remain vigilant to ensure the sustainability of the fishery, but careful management has helped the recovery and the improvement is a heartening bonus for both recreational and commercial fishers.”
For recreational crab fishers there will be a four month increase in the length of the Cockburn Sound season, which will run from 15 December 2011 to 31 August 2012. The State-wide 127mm minimum size limit for blue swimmer crabs and the West Coast Bioregion bag and boat limits continue to apply.
The changes for licensed commercial fishing operators will be:
- Decreasing the commercial minimum legal size limit for male blue swimmer crabs from 135mm to 130mm; (female size stays at 135mm);
- A commercial season from 15 December to 15 June (an extra 2.5 months); and
- Increased time to set and pull crab pots – now 3am to 3pm daily fishing time.
Dr Walshe said that recreational fishing activity for crabs occurred mainly around the fringes of Cockburn Sound, while the commercial operators generally fished in the deeper waters.
“I am pleased that the peak bodies for recreational and commercial fishers are supportive of the changes and that they understand the imperative to continue monitoring the status of crab stocks through Department of Fisheries’ research,” he said.
“The fishery has come a long way since 2006 and the new rules will ensure the rebuilding phase continues. The Department of Fisheries will work with fishers to closely monitor impacts of this season’s new controls and review the suitability of the measures prior to the season for 2012/13.”
DoF media release 2 December 2011
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Opposite
The opposite looks to be happening up here in Carnarvon, catches have dropped down to next to nothing in the last 4-5 weeks after the boats had a 6 week break.
Blame is being laid on the fact that trawlers are now allowed to take them a bycatch and their percentage has gone up from 26% to 68% of the total take.
Maybe they should be called crab trawlers instead of prawn trawlers.
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
Similar story in Karratha.
Similar story in Karratha. Bloody trawlers come through and take tonnes of crabs
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
the crabs are thick as in cockburn atm
went mully fishing last week and caught 14 nice sized crabs on rods pity we had to throw them back! couldnt keep a bait on the bottom
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
stilly
Posts: 341
Date Joined: 10/08/09
prawn trawlers
when i was there and the shots came up not so flash with prawns our next target was blueys or scollies,but hey who likes shucking between shots, on a good shot (for crabs) we boxed up 8-15 10kg boxes of big blueys, some were wider than the cabin door, at a guess over 190mm across and larger otherwise no point boxing them, never had a limit on what we put in the snap other than kings and tigers
squidder
Posts: 457
Date Joined: 03/09/10
Trawlers
are targetting crabs in Geographe Bay while their main innitial aim was to trawl for scallops.
Fisheries management failing again.