Man fined nearly $2k for undersize crab haul near Coodanup

A 78-year-old man has copped a hefty fine for taking undersize blue swimmer crabs from the Peel-Harvey Estuary.

Fisheries officers inspected the Forrestdale man's vehicle in February last year at the Coodanup Foreshore where they found 36 blue swimmer crabs.

Twenty eight of those were undersize.

Officers were able to release all of the crabs back into the water.

The man was fined $1974 in the Mandurah Magistrates Court earlier this week.

DPIRD Senior Fisheries and Marine Officer Darren Harbord said the daily bag limit for blue swimmer crabs was 10 crabs per fisher per day with a legal minimum size of 127 mm measured across the carapace. 

Mr Harbord said the bag limit was strictly enforced to protect breeding stocks in the estuary. 

“Fishers should always measure their crabs carefully from the tips of the spikes across the widest part of the shell before taking them ashore,” he said.

“Once the crabs are placed in a bucket or catch bag they are deemed to be taken and in the possession of the fisher.

“It is important for crab fishers to carry a gauge to measure each crab as soon as its caught so it can be returned promptly to the water if undersize.

“High-grading - taking crabs and discarding them later for larger crabs – could put pressure on crab stocks, as discarded crabs may not survive.”

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.