Publication Date

6-2001

Series Number

126

Publisher

Department of Fisheries, Western Australia

City

Perth, Western Australia

ISBN

0 7309 8454 0

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

A survey of recreational boat-based and shore-based fishing in the Swan-Canning Estuary Basin was conducted between August 1998 and July 1999. During the survey 1,302 interviews were conducted at boat ramps. The majority of these (62%) were not involved in fishing or crabbing activities, with a further 18 per cent fishing in the adjacent ocean. Of the remainder, 139 boats had been crabbing and 154 angling (29 were both crabbing and angling) within the Swan-Canning Estuary Basin. In addition to the interviews at boat ramps, 378 shore-based fishing parties were interviewed.

The survey estimated the total annual boat-based recreational fishing effort as 22,265 fisher days, with 44 per cent of this effort targeting blue swimmer crabs. The total annual shore-based recreational fishing effort was estimated to be 8,073 fisher days, with only 9 per cent of this effort targeting blue swimmer crabs

The estimated total recreational catch of blue swimmer crabs from the Swan-Canning Estuary Basin was 20,875 crabs or 7.3 tonnes. This consisted of a boat-based catch of 20,176 crabs and a shore-based catch of 699 crabs. Most crabs (94%) kept by recreational fishers were male.

The most common fish species kept by anglers in the Swan-Canning Estuary Basin are (in order of number kept) common blowfish, tailor, whiting other than King George, Australian herring, black bream, flathead, trumpeter and flounder.

There was a very high level of compliance with fishing regulations amongst all anglers and boat-based crabbers. However, 5.4 per cent of shore-based crabbing parties interviewed were found to have kept undersize crabs.

Less than one per cent of boats with two or more people on board achieved the daily boat limit of 48 crabs. However, a larger proportion (7.1%) of boats with only one person on board achieved their daily bag limit of 24 crabs. No anglers caught their daily bag limit of any fish species.

Number of Pages

44

Keywords

Recreational fishing, Recreational boat-based fishing, Shore-based fishing, Swan-Canning estuary basin, Blue swimmer crabs, South West Western Australia, Sustainability, Survey

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology | Natural Resources Management and Policy

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