According to the news the crabbers are get to fish for a feed. Fisheries Minister Norman Moore told that the reopening of Cockburn Sound to commercial and recreational crab fishers from December 15 following a three-year closure. He said that crabbing in Cockburn Sound was banned in 2006 to allow overfished stocks to rebuild and ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery.
Moore explained that precautionary action has proved successful and we can now reopen the fishery. It will be open to crab fishers from December 15 this year to March 31, 2010. he further adds that the length of the season will help the ongoing recovery of the blue swimmer crab population in Cockburn Sound. Fishers need to understand that it was excessive fishing as well as several years of poor recruitment in the fishery that led to the closure.
As per the opinion of researchers the adult stock of crabs has risen since the closure but the fishery needs close monitoring to ensure a balance between access to and sustainability of the fishery. The Minister said commercial crab fishers licensed to operate in Cockburn Sound would have to comply with increased size limits and reduced pot numbers.
Moore informed that he had also made a decision not to extend the two-month seasonal closure in the Peel Harvey Estuary this year although research had indicated lower than usual numbers of juvenile crabs in the Peel Harvey Estuary. He added that catches will be closely monitored over summer to determine if management action will be required to address any sustainability concerns.
