Queensland's East Coast Crab Fishery

Researcher Sue Helmke collecting mud crabs using a crab pot. Photo: DPI&F

There is a significant commercial crab fishing industry targetting mud crabs along the western boundary of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) which is the low water mark on the Queensland coast. Some effort occurs within the GBRWHA, and most just outside it, in coastal rivers and creeks. There are also fisheries for blue swimmer crabs and spanner crabs, which are focussed in southern Queensland but also overlap the GBRWHA. Most crabs are caught in crab pots or dillies, with a smaller amount of catch (mainly of blue swimmer crabs and three-spot crabs) through trawling. Altogether six species of crab are caught. Most commercial crab fishers are small-scale operators, and many also fish the inshore net fishery. There is also a significant recreational crab fishery, especially for mud crabs.

The status of stocks making up Queensland's East Coast crab fisheries is unknown. However, the management of mud crab, blue swimmer and spanner crab fisheries has been assessed as ecologically sustainable by under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 by the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage.

A lack of data on crab populations and catch, especially recreational catch, makes it difficult to assess the status of crab populations.

There is a high level of latent effort in the commercial crab fishery, which could lead to increased catch. Because crab stocks are cross-jurisdictional, fisheries agencies across state boundaries have to work together to ensure compliance with management regulations.

Bycatch is an issue of concern. Most female and undersized crabs which are caught accidentally would be returned to the water alive. Interaction with protected species such as sea turtles is of concern. There is also capacity for some apparatus to be lost to ghost fish.

Crab stocks, particularly mud crab populations, may also be affected by water quality and loss of habitat due to coastal development.

Sources:
Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH):
Queensland blue swimmer crab pot fishery, Queensland mud crab fishery, Queensland spanner crab fishery,

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA):
State of the Great Barrier Reef - Management Status: Crab Fisheries

Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F):
Fisheries biology and assessment of the blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus) in Queensland, Reducing uncertainty in the assessment of the Australian spanner crab fishery

Queensland Seafood Industry Organisation (QSIA):
Mud crab and blue swimmer crab fisheries

There were 541 boats targeting crabs operating in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) for a total of 36,584 days, with a catch of 1,334 tonnes of crabs worth $10.1 million. Another 2,618 tonnes of crabs were collected over 40,283 days on Queensland’s East Coast outside the GBRWHA, generating a value of $16.7 million

Data extracted from http://chrisweb.dpi.qld.gov.au 30 June 2004 with permission from Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

The fishery is managed by Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F), with limitations on size and gender of crabs taken, gear restrictions, and closed seasons. A management plan is in place for spanner crabs, and management plans for mud and blue swimmer crabs are being developed for implementation by the end of 2006.

The spanner crab fishery was among the first to gain environmental accreditation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act by the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage. Both mud crab and blue swimmer crabs have now also been accredited.

Meeting sustainability guidelines - Environment Australia accreditation
DPI&F background to fisheries assessments

Queensland Spanner Crab Fishery
Environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Department of the Environment and Heritage, 7 March 2002

Fisheries (Spanner Crab) Management Plan 1999 Queensland Government legislation

Queensland Mud Crab Fishery
Environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Department of the Environment and Heritage, 29 September 2004

Queensland Blue Swimmer Crab Pot Fishery
Environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Department of the Environment and Heritage, 16 November 2004

Mud crabs

Blue swimmer crabs

Spanner crabs

Commercial crab fisheries in Queensland
DPI&F's crab fishery information

State of the Great Barrier Reef - Management Status: Crab Fisheries
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's crab fishery information

Mud crab and blue swimmer crab fisheries
Queensland Seafood Industry Organisation's industry pages