Publication Date
4-2026
Series Number
No. 358
Publisher
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
City
Perth
ISBN
ISBN: 978-1-925415-31-5 (Online), ISBN: 978-1-925415-30-8 (Print)
ISSN
ISSN: 2202-5758 (Online), ISSN: 1035-4549 (Print)
Abstract
The Cockburn Sound Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus) fishery was reopened to recreational fishing in December 2024 following a 10-year closure. Monitoring was essential to assess fishing effort and catch for this species.
A boat ramp (bus route) survey at four key access points (Leeuwin, Woodman Point, Palm Beach, and Point Peron) and shore-based roving creel survey (Fremantle South Mole to Point Peron) were used to collect data from December 2024 to May 2025. These surveys provide estimates of fishing effort, total catch (kept and released), harvest and catch rates for Blue Swimmer Crab in Cockburn Sound.
A total of 2,012 boat fishing parties and 1,723 shore fishing parties were interviewed, with a response rate of more than 98%. Boat fishing parties primarily targeted finfish and squid (41.8%), except in December when rock lobster was primarily targeted (51.7%). Targeting of Blue Swimmer Crab peaked in January–March (4.2–18.8%). Shore fishing parties predominantly targeted finfish and squid (94.1%), with targeting of Blue Swimmer Crab peaking in December–January (1.0–9.7%). Drop nets were the dominant fishing method used to target crabs by boat (82.9%) and shore (88.3%) fishers.
Number of Pages
36
Keywords
Blue Swimmer Crab, Portunus armatus, Cockburn Sound, Recreational fishing, Boat ramp survey, Roving creel survey
Disciplines
Aquaculture and Fisheries
Recommended Citation
Tate, A.C., Smallwood, C.B., Lai, E.K.M. 2026. Recreational fishing for Blue Swimmer Crab in Cockburn Sound: estimates of effort and catch in 2024/25. Fisheries Research Report No. 358. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. 32pp.
