Recreational fishers are reminded to not catch blue swimmer crabs during the annual spawning closure from Tuesday 1 September to 30 November.
The closed season covers an area from the Swan River through to Rich Road Minninup Beach south of Bunbury, including the popular Cockburn Sound and Peel-Harvey areas, and all the waters, rivers and estuaries in this area.
The spawning closure plays an important role in protecting blue swimmer crabs during their peak spawning period, helping to build crab stocks for future generations of fishers.
The closure also provides an opportunity for some of the juvenile crabs to grow and moult to legal size, supporting the sustainability of this iconic Western Australian fishery and providing great fishing experiences.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Fisheries Management Officer Sara Monaghan said the spawning closure was a key management measure that helped maintain strong blue swimmer crab stocks.
"The annual spawning closure protects breeding crabs at a critical time in their lifecycle and allows a portion of the younger crabs the opportunity to grow to legal size," Ms Monaghan said.
"These measures help ensure Western Australians can continue to enjoy excellent blue swimmer crab fishing opportunities."
Crabbing for blue swimmer crabs is the go-to guide for all the fishing rules which ensure crab populations remain sustainable.
The guide includes a useful map of the spring spawning closure area.
During the closure we urge all members of the community to report any illegal fishing activity to FishWatch on 1800 815 507 or online at Report • Crime Stoppers WA .
