❓ A parliamentary question addresses commercial crabbing licenses, protection of spawning crabs, breeding grounds, and the impact of seagrass loss and industry on crab populations in Cockburn Sound. The Minister's response provides data on licenses and clarifies fishing practices.
AnsweredQoN 1191Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
COCKBURN SOUND - CRABBING
I refer to crabbing in Cockburn Sound. (1) How many commercial crabbing licences for Cockburn Sound were issued in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; and what is the total number of licences? (2) What checks are conducted on commercial crabbers to measure the number of spawning female crabs caught in nets? (3) Where in Cockburn Sound are the breeding grounds for crabs located? (4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD
I refer to crabbing in Cockburn Sound. (1) How many commercial crabbing licences for Cockburn Sound were issued in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; and what is the total number of licences? (2) What checks are conducted on commercial crabbers to measure the number of spawning female crabs caught in nets? (3) Where in Cockburn Sound are the breeding grounds for crabs located? (4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(1) How many commercial crabbing licences for Cockburn Sound were issued in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; and what is the total number of licences? (2) What checks are conducted on commercial crabbers to measure the number of spawning female crabs caught in nets? (3) Where in Cockburn Sound are the breeding grounds for crabs located? (4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(2) What checks are conducted on commercial crabbers to measure the number of spawning female crabs caught in nets? (3) Where in Cockburn Sound are the breeding grounds for crabs located? (4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(3) Where in Cockburn Sound are the breeding grounds for crabs located? (4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(1) How many commercial crabbing licences for Cockburn Sound were issued in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; and what is the total number of licences? (2) What checks are conducted on commercial crabbers to measure the number of spawning female crabs caught in nets? (3) Where in Cockburn Sound are the breeding grounds for crabs located? (4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(2) What checks are conducted on commercial crabbers to measure the number of spawning female crabs caught in nets? (3) Where in Cockburn Sound are the breeding grounds for crabs located? (4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(3) Where in Cockburn Sound are the breeding grounds for crabs located? (4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(4) Has there been a significant loss of seagrass in the breeding grounds? (5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(5) Which industries or activities have had the biggest negative impact on the breeding grounds? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
I thank Hon Barbara Scott for some notice of the question. (1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(1) There are currently 12 managed fishery licences operating in the managed fishery at Cockburn Sound. Eleven licences were issued prior to 2001 and one licence was issued in 2001. (2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(2) Under fisheries legislation, crabs in a breeding condition are classified as totally protected fish and cannot be legally taken. In Cockburn Sound the commercial fishers use crab pots, not nets. Crabs taken in pots are generally in good condition, and fishers are able to return crabs that are in breeding condition or are under size knowing that they will survive. (3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(3) The department’s research division has found no pattern to the location of breeding crabs in Cockburn Sound. They appear to be fairly uniformly distributed throughout the sound with a slight preference for deeper water. (4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
(4)-(5) There is no evidence that available seagrass or industry have had any significant contributing impact on this breeding event.
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