Publication Date

11-2001

Series Number

127

Publisher

Department of Fisheries, Western Australia

City

Perth, Western Australia

ISBN

0 7309 8455 9

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

A survey of recreational boat-based and shore-based fishing in the Peel-Harvey Estuary was conducted between August 1998 and July 1999. During the survey 1,996 interviews were conducted at boat ramps. Of these, 1,136 boats had been crabbing and 136 angling in the estuary (43 were both crabbing and angling). In addition to the interviews at boat ramps, 909 shore-based fishing parties were interviewed.

The survey estimated the total annual boat-based recreational fishing effort as 126,000 fisher days, with 88% of this effort targeting blue swimmer crabs. The total annual shore-based recreational fishing effort was estimated to be 191,000 fisher days, with 83% of this effort targeting blue swimmer crabs.

The recreational blue swimmer crab catch from the Peel-Harvey Estuary is substantial and exceeds the reported commercial catch. The estimated total recreational catch of blue swimmer crabs was 1,360,000 crabs (range: 1,237,000 – 1,483,000) or 289 tonnes (range: 269 - 309 tonnes). This consisted of a boat-based catch of 832,000 crabs (range: 768,000 – 896,000) and a shore-based catch of 528,000 crabs (range: 423,000 – 633,000). Most crabs (86%) kept by recreational fishers were male.

The recreational catch of fish from the Peel-Harvey Estuary is relatively small compared to the recreational crab catch. The most common fish species kept by anglers are (in order of number kept) Australian herring, whiting other than King George (Sillago spp.), tailor, skipjack trevally, trumpeters, King George whiting, silver bream (tarwhine) and black bream.

There was a high level of compliance with the size limits amongst boat-based fishers. Only 5.8% of boat crews angling had kept undersize fish while 105 (9.2%) of the 1,136 boat crews crabbing had kept undersize crabs. However, 13% of shore-based crabbing parties interviewed were found to have kept undersize crabs.

Few boats with two or more people on board (7%) achieve the daily boat limit of 48 crabs specified under present statewide recreational fishing regulations. However, a greater proportion of boats with only one person on board (30%) achieve their daily bag limit of 24 crabs.

Number of Pages

48

Keywords

Recreational fishing, Recreational boat-based fishing, Recreational shore-based fishing, Peel-Harvey Estuary, Blue swimmer crabs, Compliance, Size limits, Crabbing, Surveys

Disciplines

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

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