The days of inverted crab dillies also known as witches’ hats are over in Queensland as the authority has approved new crabbing laws with effect from 2 April 2010. Fisheries resource manager Mark Lightowler said that the ban of inverted crab dillies was in place to combat ‘ghost-fishing’ and reduce entanglement and death of non-target marine species.
He added that the inverted dillies are made of a light gauge mesh, which can easily entangle marine species such as turtles, sharks, rays and fish. He also told that it is difficult to release these species and female and undersized crabs from this mesh unharmed.
Information revealed that inverted dillies are light weight in their construction and have a tendency to drift and become lost. They then continue to ‘ghost-fish’ until they become buried or breakdown. According to Lightowler other types of crab pots or dillies allowed fish and unwanted crabs to be easily released unharmed. He informed that the phasing out of witches’ hats was announced back in December 2008 as part of an overhaul in recreational and commercial fishing rules for inshore fisheries.
He explained that fishers should also remember to mark their crab apparatus with an identifying tag bearing the owner’s surname and address. Individuals should not use a total of more than four items of crabbing apparatus, including any combination of crab pots or dillies per person.
