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Crab Fisheries

Note: Some of the material contained in this chapter is out of date and currently under review (1/7/2004)

Crab Fisheries

The east coast commercial crab fisheries comprise three fisheries: blue swimmer crab, mud crab and spanner crab. Commercial and recreational fishers use crab pots and dillies to target these crab species.  Commercial crabbers usually are small-scale operators who also participate in the inshore net fishery.

Fishery Management Plans for the blue swimmer and mud crab fisheries have been proposed for release by Queensland fisheries managers. A Management Plan has been introduced for the spanner crab fishery. Fisheries Regulations relating to blue swimmer crab and mud crab have been introduced to address specific issues.

The mud crab fishery operates mainly in intertidal areas outside the GBRMP. There are concerns over current levels of effort and localised depletions of stocks.

The spanner crab fishery operates mostly outside the GBRMP with only about 5 percent of the catch being taken from the GBRMP. The spanner crab fishery is managed with a Total Allowable Catch (TAC). 

The mud crab fishery operates mainly in inter tidal areas outside the GBRMP. The blue swimmer crab fishery mostly operates in offshore areas south of the GBRMP. It is difficult to determine exactly how much catch is taken in the GBRMP because of the scale in which fishers report their catches. The main concerns about the mud crab fishery is the ecological sustainability of current levels of effort, latent effort (substantial number of unused commercial fishing licences) and localised depletion of stocks.

In Queensland, there are about 900 commercial crabbing licences for blue swimmer crab and mud crab. The QFS has estimated that about 400 of these licenses are used actively in the mud crab fishery and about 150 are used actively in the blue swimmer crab fishery. There are over 200 spanner crab licences, of which about 170 are used actively to take the TAC.

Community Awareness and Compliance

User groups and communities are consulted and involved in the development of Marine Park zoning and management plans, such as occurred at this meeting of GBRMPA staff and Midge Point community members.

User groups and communities are consulted and involved in the development of Marine Park zoning and management plans and Queensland’s fisheries management arrangements. The GBRMPA’s communication and education program further enhances public understanding and acceptance of the fishing regulations in the Marine Park management strategy.

Fishing was the key focus of an enhanced compliance strategy that began in July 1999. High priority areas included dugong protection, trawling and line fishing in protected zones. Assisted by additional Commonwealth Government funding, the strategy included enhanced patrol activities, development of an integrated intelligence-based planning system and use of a range of new technologies. The strategy has seen a significant increase in the rate of detection and prosecution of illegal fishing activity in the Marine Park. The GBRMPA also has access to the satellite‑linked vessel monitoring system developed by the QFS for trawlers and vessels involved in the sea cucumber and trochus fisheries.

Amendments to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 came into effect on 19 July 2001. These amendments included provision to increase the maximum fines for illegal fishing contrary to Marine Park zoning provisions to $220,000 for an individual and $1.1 million for a body corporate. The GBRMPA’s legislation will continue to be reviewed to streamline fisheries enforcement in the Marine Park. The GBRMPA is also seeking to ensure that illegal fishing in the Marine Park is considered a serious fisheries offence under QFS fisheries management plans and that appropriate additional penalties, such as licence suspension, apply to offenders under Queensland legislation.

Summary

  • Management arrangements for fisheries in the GBRMP are subject to the Offshore Constitutional Settlement 1995 between the State and the Commonwealth. Under this agreement, the QFS undertakes the day to day management of fisheries, other than tuna and billfish, under the Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld). Meanwhile, the GBRMPA continues to have responsibility for the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, including the use of Marine National Park or “green’ zones that preclude commercial and recreational fishing to support conservation of fish species and natural ecosystem of the GBRMP.
  • Fisheries issues are complex involving multiple stakeholder groups and issues such as declining catches, impacts on by-catch and habitat, increasing fishing effort and compliance.
  • Trawling is a major commercial fishery in the GBRMP. The ECTF Management Plan capped effort and is addressing issues such as by-catch and ecological sustainability.
  • Coral reef fish and pelagic line fisheries are major fisheries that include commercial, recreational and charter fishers. The QFS released a revised draft reef line fishery management plan in October 2002 that proposes a significant reduction of commercial fishing effort, new recreational bag limits and new fish size limits based on the latest scientific advice.
  • The commercial net and inshore line fishery involves both commercial and recreational fishers. The QFS has indicated that it will prepare an East Coast Inshore Finfish Fishery Management Plan to help address issues such as the ecological sustainability of current levels of effort, latent effort, threats to endangered species and conflict with other users.
  • Several dive-based fisheries occur in the GBRMP. Generally, there is no by-catch associated with these fisheries, however there are concerns over the sustainability of the rock lobster fishery, and stocks of the black teat fish (a sea cucumber) have collapsed.
  • There are three crab fisheries, however these fisheries generally operate outside the boundaries of the GBRMP. There are concerns over declining catches, levels of effort, localised stock depletions and latent effort.
  • The commencement of the EPBC Act in 1999 requires fisheries in the GBRWHA to be assessed under the Commonwealth Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries. The GBRMPA works closely with Environment Australia on these assessments.

Further reading

General information about fish in the Great Barrier Reef

Searchable database on coral reef fish

Fisheries, research and management

Environment Australia Sustainable fisheries Section (includes Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries and assessment reports for various fisheries)

Fisheries assessments and supporting documentation:

GBRMPA Audit of the Management of the East Coast Trawl Fishery

Policy Information sheet on multiple hook line fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Best environmental practices (fishing)

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