❓ Hon Rick Mazza asks about crab population research and catch data between Carnarvon and Augusta, including Warnbro Sound. The Minister provides details of research and monitoring programs and tables a document with further information.
AnsweredQoN 185Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FISHERIES — CRAB POPULATION
185. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for
Fisheries:
(1) Can the
minister advise whether research by the Department of Fisheries has recently
focused on crab populations along the coastline between Carnarvon and Augusta;
and, if so, what was the nature of the research?
(2) Can the
minister advise whether commercial and recreational catches are recorded; and,
if so, what tonnages are being harvested?
(3) Was research
recently carried out in Warnbro Sound; and, if yes, what was the purpose of the
research; and, if no, will the minister advise why Department of Fisheries
officers were aboard a commercial crabbing vessel that was observed setting
strings of numerous pots?
185. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for
Fisheries:
(1) Can the
minister advise whether research by the Department of Fisheries has recently
focused on crab populations along the coastline between Carnarvon and Augusta;
and, if so, what was the nature of the research?
(2) Can the
minister advise whether commercial and recreational catches are recorded; and,
if so, what tonnages are being harvested?
(3) Was research
recently carried out in Warnbro Sound; and, if yes, what was the purpose of the
research; and, if no, will the minister advise why Department of Fisheries
officers were aboard a commercial crabbing vessel that was observed setting
strings of numerous pots?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Research
surveys and/or commercial monitoring occurs in all commercial and important
recreationally fished blue swimmer crab fisheries between Carnarvon and Augusta
including Shark Bay, Cockburn Sound, the Swan–Canning River, Warnbro
Sound, the Peel–Harvey estuary, Mandurah–Bunbury, Geographe Bay
and Leschenault Inlet. This research includes monthly monitoring of on‑board
commercial vessels to assess commercial catch and fishery-independent research
trawling, trapping and seining to provide estimates of recruitment and breeding
stock.
(2) Commercial
catch and effort is reported monthly by fishers and a recreational survey
reports boat-based recreational catch estimates every two years for each
bioregion. I will table the attached document.
(3) Yes. Research
was recently carried out in Warnbro Sound with monthly commercial monitoring
occurring on board an operator's vessel. The purpose of this commercial
monitoring research is to provide an understanding of the catch rates, size,
structure, sex ratio and berried status of the stock that is being fished.
[See paper 3901.]
some notice of the question.
(1) Research
surveys and/or commercial monitoring occurs in all commercial and important
recreationally fished blue swimmer crab fisheries between Carnarvon and Augusta
including Shark Bay, Cockburn Sound, the Swan–Canning River, Warnbro
Sound, the Peel–Harvey estuary, Mandurah–Bunbury, Geographe Bay
and Leschenault Inlet. This research includes monthly monitoring of on‑board
commercial vessels to assess commercial catch and fishery-independent research
trawling, trapping and seining to provide estimates of recruitment and breeding
stock.
(2) Commercial
catch and effort is reported monthly by fishers and a recreational survey
reports boat-based recreational catch estimates every two years for each
bioregion. I will table the attached document.
(3) Yes. Research
was recently carried out in Warnbro Sound with monthly commercial monitoring
occurring on board an operator's vessel. The purpose of this commercial
monitoring research is to provide an understanding of the catch rates, size,
structure, sex ratio and berried status of the stock that is being fished.
[See paper 3901.]
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