- 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.
As stated by 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."
As stated by 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."
