- Recreational fishing for blue swimmer crabs in Cockburn Sound will resume
from 1 December
- Cook Government offering buyout for commercial licence holders
- Research continues
to support future monitoring of crab stocks
Western Australian recreational fishers will have the opportunity to
return to Cockburn Sound this summer to catch their favourite blue swimmer
crabs for the first time in a decade.
The Cook Government will reopen Cockburn Sound for recreational
fishing for blue swimmer crabs from 1 December.
Cockburn Sound has been closed to both recreational and commercial
fishing since 2014 to support stock recovery.
While the Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) latest assessment shows
sufficient stock to support some limited recreational fishing, the stock has
not returned to a level to support reopening of the commercial fishery at this
time.
Given the uncertain
prospect of commercial blue swimmer crab fishing in Cockburn Sound, the State
Government will offer the 12 existing commercial fishers the opportunity to
sell their licences back to the Government.
Cockburn Sound will open under the same arrangements as the Swan River
with a bag limit of five blue swimmer crabs per day and a boat limit of 20 per
day (when four Recreational Fishing Boat Licence holders are on board).
These rules will also now apply to areas north of Carnac Island and
Woodman Point to provide consistent arrangements between the Swan River and
Cockburn Sound.
The annual closure between 1 September and 30 November will also apply in
Cockburn Sound to protect the blue swimmer crab breeding stock.
The new rules were informed by new DPIRD research, which shows that blue
swimmer crab populations in Cockburn Sound and the Swan and Canning Rivers are
connected.
The next stock assessment
for the Cockburn Sound Crab Managed Fishery will be undertaken in 2029.
Comments attributed to
Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
"It's great news that we are able to offer more recreational fishing
opportunities following the recent reopening of fishing for southern garfish
from Lancelin to Myalup.
"We are continuing to manage our State's fisheries sustainably and find
the right balance for recfishers in Perth and the regions to enjoy this very
popular activity.
"Exploring new science, such as looking at the mineral signature of blue
swimmer crabs to help track movements, is a great example of how research can
support the sustainable management of our fisheries."
Comments attributed to
Cockburn MLA David Scaife:
"The Cockburn Sound is a favourite spot for local fishers, who will
welcome the chance to go crabbing here again this summer.
"I thank the Cook Government for their responsible management of this
fishery, which now means residents will be able to enjoy this family-friendly recreational
activity once again for the first time in a decade."
