The compliance effort is part of Operation Lightwald, which has been underway in the Peel Harvey region and the Swan and Canning Rivers since the beginning of summer.
A new intake of fisheries officers late last year has seen more officers on the water and boots on the ground in Perth and Peel areas to boost fisheries compliance and education.
For fishers using drop or scoop nets to catch blue swimmer crabs, it’s important to know the size and bag limits. There are still large numbers of undersize crabs in Peel Harvey waters. Don’t get caught short and make sure each bluey is measured as its caught and if it’s undersize, return it to the water immediately. It can then grow to legal size and be caught again before the season closes on 31 August.
A legal size blue swimmer crab must have a carapace width of at least 127mm. In Peel Harvey waters, the daily bag limit is 10 crabs per person, and if there’s two or more people onboard a boat, the boat limit is 20.
If it is a powered boat, two or more people must each hold a valid Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL). If there is only one person holding an RFBL on board a powered boat, only the daily bag limit of the person who has the licence applies.
DPIRD Director Regional Compliance Metro Todd A’Vard said the blue swimmer crab fishery was identified as a high compliance risk and significant resources had been allocated to ensure fishers operated within the rules.
“Across the Perth metropolitan area, we have a pool of 34 officers we can draw on to assist with Operation Lightwald and other compliance operations,” Mr A’Vard said.
“Since Operation Lightwald began in December, officers have inspected more than 3600 fishers which included 370 boats connected with crabbing activity.
“Officers have issued 103 infringement fines and 124 warning notices for offences in the Peel Harvey region. A further 18 infringement fines and 20 formal warnings have been issued for the Swan and Canning Rivers, where two fishers will be facing prosecution.
“We have undertaken both land and boat-based patrols with high profile mobile patrols as well as covert patrols focussed on times of peak fishing activity.”
DPIRD’s crabbing guide for blue swimmer crabs is available online and now also in Vietnamese and Chinese.
Check the rules at: Crab, blue swimmer - Western Australian recreational fishing rules.
Anyone who sees or suspects illegal crab fishing activity is urged to report it to DPIRD’s 24/7 FishWatch service on 1800 815 507 or online at Report • Crime Stoppers Western Australia (crimestopperswa.com.au) - click on the special FishWatch link for your report.
