Crabbing in Cockburn Sound – what you need to know ahead of December 1st

The hotly anticipated annual summer crabbing season on the lower west coast gets underway this Sunday, 1 December, and has some extra spice this year for crustacean connoisseurs with Cockburn Sound reopening for crabbing!

Getting access back to the iconic crab fishery is something Recfishwest has advocated for more than a decade and it was great to hear the Minister for Fisheries announce the reopening of the Sound for recreational crabbing supported by the latest stock assessment.  

Before you get your nets, scoops or diving gear ready to try gather a feed of these delicious critters, it’s important to be across the new rules detailed below. For more information, make sure you download the Recfishwest app 

Cockburn Sound crabbing area 

The map below details where you can go crabbing within Cockburn Sound between 1 December, 2024 and 31 August, 2025. Note that crabbing in Rous Head is not permitted 

Bag and boat limit 

A bag limit of 5 crabs per person applies to Cockburn Sound waters up to North Mole and the boat limit is 20 crabs with four or more licensed fishers on board. These are the same rules that apply in the Swan and Canning rivers. The 127mm minimum carapace width size limit still applies.  

Be mindful of when you go crabbing 

While the green light arrives for crabbing in the Swan and Canning rivers, Cockburn Sound, Peel-Harvey system and to south of Bunbury on Sunday 1 December, bear in mind that many crabs will still be undersize given the relatively cool spring we had. 

This means it might be worth considering focusing crabbing efforts to later in summer once the water has warmed up some more and the crabs have had a chance to moult. This also means your catches are more likely to be of legal size.  

The annual three-month closure of crabbing for Perth (including Cockburn Sound) and the South West (down to Rich Road, 15km south of Bunbury) comes into effect from 1 September to 30 November each year.  

Stay safe while diving and be prop aware  

Given some crabbers may be diving beneath the surface to grab crabs by hand with boats moving above their heads, it is essential divers and skippers are prop-aware to maximise safety. 

Propellers can cause serious damage or death to divers. Click here to see some great tips on being prop-aware 

If you’re diving for crabs, also remember to stay safe by diving with a friend, stay within comfortable limits of one another, don’t push yourself and dive with a float and dive flag attached. 

Community’s joy at Cockburn Sound’s crabbing comeback

Having fished in Cockburn Sound for 57 years man and boy, Cockburn Power Boats Club member Don Beisley is thrilled to have the chance to go crabbing with his grandkids in the Sound this summer.

This opportunity means three generations of his family will have enjoyed catching blue swimmer crabs in the Sound.

Don (pictured below with son-in-law Tony crabbing on the Swan) was one of thousands celebrating this week’s fantastic news that Cockburn Sound is to reopen for crabbing this summer for the first time in 10 years.

Don Beisley and his son-in-law Tony will soon be able to carry their joys of crabbing on the Swan River to Cockburn Sound, with crabbing given the green light in the Sound from 1 December!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – HOW WE BROKE THE COCKBURN SOUND CRABS REOPENING NEWS

“I’ve nothing but good memories of catching crabs in the Sound with my dad and my uncle when I was a kid, chugging out in their old school clinker boat,” recalled Don. “We’d take what we’d need for a feed, and they tasted great! But it was all about getting to do it with my dad and uncle – it was such fun!

Don continued, “When I got older, my wife and I took our kids out crabbing, and they loved it too. They still talk about it today as grown-ups. Now, I’m rapt to be able to share this experience with my grandchildren this summer.

“I was over the moon to hear the news – it’s such a magical place right on our doorstep. It’s pretty special, isn’t it? So, well done to you guys – it’s a great result for everyone.”

And when Don’s grandkids do go out crabbing with Don, it will be with crab nets they had a hand in making!

“We make our own nets for crabbing in the Sound,” Don revealed. “We get the frames made and sew all the mesh by hand. It’s all about the size, depth, and color of the mesh. Now, we’ve got the grandkids helping out with making the nets too!”

Picking up the thread. Don showing his grandchildren the art of crab net making!

Cockburn Soundbites

Here’s some of the other reactions to the great news for metro crabbers.

“Awesome outcome, thank you.” – Ted Russell

“Oh yes thank you very much for your info. Now no need to driving far for chasing crab thank you” – Henrix Clavecilla

“Excellent work really looking forward to it. It’s been a long time. Be great for the family and the kids. Thanks, Recfishwest!” – Jason and Karen Kuzmanich

“Great news, Recfishwest, Well done” – Barbara Ross.

“OMG! Been waiting since 2014! Awesome! Caught some nice feeds there,” – Murray Sofield.

Awesome news for the upcoming seasons…Thank you to Recfishwest and the various departments involved in preserving, rebuilding and managing this important fishery” – Crackpots Marine Supplies.

Cockburn Sound to reopen for crabbing this summer!

Recfishwest is delighted by the Minister for Fisheries’ decision to reopen Cockburn Sound for crabbing this summer from 1 December for the first time in 10 years!

The announcement follows DPIRD’s updated scientific assessment that confirms crab stocks in Cockburn Sound have recovered enough to allow families and friends to catch a delicious feed of crabs in the sheltered waters of the Sound.

The assessment also showed that changing environmental conditions have reduced crab productivity in Cockburn Sound to a level unlikely to support commercial crab fishing into the future.

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “Over the last ten years, Recfishwest has repeatedly called for changes to the way crabs are managed in Cockburn Sound to deliver optimum community benefit.

“We are now pleased to see that the updated science assessment has confirmed what we suspected that the Sound can reopen for recreational crabbing.

“This is a great outcome for metro fishers further highlighting the huge value of Cockburn Sound.

“Crabs are one of the most popular species and reopening the Sound to crabbing will complement the iconic Swan-Canning and Peel-Harvey crab fisheries, so it’s looking like a great summer of crabbing ahead!”

Click here to read the Minister’s media release

The rules for crabbing in Cockburn Sound will be the same as those that apply in the Swan and Canning Rivers – the fishery will open from 1 December until 31 August with a bag limit of five crabs per person per day and a boat limit of 20.

The Cockburn Sound crab fishery was closed from 2006-2009 due to sustainability concerns and again in 2014 and hasn’t reopened since.

Reopening the fishery this summer is just another example of Recfishwest making fishing in WA even better – click here to join our cast of thousands as a Recfishwest member today and encourage your friends and family to do the same!

A cracker of a crab! Although this one wasn’t caught there, happy scenes like this will soon be returning to Cockburn Sound!

 

Thanks for the Overwhelming Response on Crabs

A discussion paper released by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) on October 25th called into question the suitability of current management arrangements for Blue Swimmer Crabs on

the lower West Coast and highlighted an urgent need to better protect breeding stocks.

The discussion paper highlighted a particular concern about the current level of protection provided to mated, pre-spawn female crabs which become highly vulnerable to capture in late autumn, winter and spring.

For many years Recfishwest have been seeking changes to the way lower west coast crab fisheries are managed in order to protect this important resource and part of our WA culture, and we’re pleased to provide an update.

Following our extensive community consultation via an online survey which was accessed by 3,961 fishers, Recfishwest is making the following recommendations to ensure you can enjoy crab fishing well into the future:

 


FMP 288: Protecting breeding stock levels of the blue swimmer crab resource in the lower west coast.

Summary of recommendations from Recfishwest:

  1. We believe that lower west coast crab fisheries should be prioritised for recreation.

The south-west region is the heartland of crabbing for the recreational fishing sector. In fact, about 90% of our sectors catch comes from iconic lower west coast fisheries such as the Peel/Harvey and Swan River. For this reason, we believe that the lower west coast crab fisheries should be prioritised for recreational fishing experiences.

  1. Each fishery should be managed to deliver the best experience, even if that means different rules in different fisheries.

Different crab fisheries in the lower west coast provide different fishing experiences at different times of year. For example, the Geographe Bay fishery provides the best crabbing in winter and spring, whereas the Swan River and Peel/Harvey fisheries provide the best crabbing in summer and autumn.

Given these differences, our survey showed the vast majority of people supported managing fisheries to deliver positive experiences, even if that meant different rules in different fisheries.

  1. Male only fisheries are not our preferred method for achieving the level of protection required for breeding crabs.

On the surface it may seem logical that a male only fishery would provide protection for pre-spawn female crabs. However, given the suite of other options available, a male only fishery is not Recfishwest’s preference at this time. We believe other measures would provide greater benefit to protecting breeding stock.

After talking to crab scientists about the likelihood of sperm limitation and investigating the impact male only rules have had on other crab fisheries in Australia, Recfishwest are not convinced male only fisheries is the best management option available to provide breeding crabs with the protection they require.

A male only fishery would result in a de facto closure of the Geographe Bay recreational crab fishery, whose catches are predominantly female and whose fishery does not impact on any other fisheries (recreational or commercial) in the lower west coast.

Recfishwest recognise fishers who currently choose not to retain female crabs are already providing a significant form of protection for crab breeding stock and these fishers play a role in influencing the behaviour of other crab fishers.

  1. An increase in the minimum legal length is not supported at this stage.

Almost two thirds of survey respondents were not in favour of increasing the minimum legal size for crabs. Should other management measures be successful, it is highly likely that the average size of crabs in these fisheries will increase. Should this be the case, an increase to the minimum legal size can be considered at this time.

  1. A broad-scale seasonal closure is implemented from 1st May – Dec 14th*

*(Closure times for the Geographe Bay crab fishery should be determined following further consultation with local fishers)

Recfishwest believe that broad scale seasonal closures are the best option for providing protection to breeding stock of crabs and 87% of survey respondents agree.

Over 80% of recreational crabbing occurs during the summer and autumn periods, so broad scale closures during winter and spring are a simple and effective management tool that will provide a benefit back to the resource, which, over time, will improve crabbing experiences for everyone.

Different closure times in Geographe Bay should be given consideration due to the winter and spring nature of this fishery.

  1. A night time curfew for lower west coast crab fisheries is not something we support.

Recfishwest believe that people should be able to access this community owned resource regardless of the time of day. We understand that whilst a night time curfew might make compliance activities easier, we believe that excluding people from fishing during night time does not maximise the return of the resource back to the community.

We believe a targeted compliance campaign resulting in boat and vehicle confiscations similar to Operation Bagana recently undertaken for the Rock Lobster fishery, will assist compliance activities more than a curfew.

  1. Measures should be implemented that reduce the amount of female crabs taken by the Mandurah to Bunbury Developing Crab fishery.

The crabs being caught in this commercial fishery underpin the Peel-Harvey and Leschenault estuary crab fisheries. Recfishwest believe it is not appropriate to allow vulnerable female crabs that feed our favourite estuaries to be targeted to such an extent.  We have real concerns about the ongoing viability of the adjacent estuarine crab fisheries while these operations catch high levels of female crabs, many of which are taken during important spawning times. The Marine Stewardship Council’s full certification report for the Peel/Harvey crab fishery highlighted that commercial fishing effort in the nearby oceanic waters should be closely monitored to ensure that breeding stock does not reduce to a point where recruitment becomes impaired.

  1. The Hardy Inlet and Blackwood River crab fishery should be included in management actions arising from FMP 288.

From a fisheries management perspective, the Hardy Inlet and Blackwood River are a part of the West Coast Estuarine Managed Fishery Management Plan 2014 and within the West Coast Bioregion. Recfishwest cannot see why this crab fishery operating under the West Coast Estuarine Management Plan has been excluded from FMP 288.

  1. The impact on tourism associated with blue swimmer crabs should be considered when developing management actions.

Any management changes arising from this discussion paper should consider the impact on tourism as a result of management changes. The Government has very clearly articulated the importance of developing Western Australian tourism and blue swimmer crabs have their part to play in this push for increased tourism.

  1. Management arrangements for Cockburn Sound are reviewed with the intention to facilitate a summer recreational crab fishery.

Given the aspirations for commercial and recreational fishers are vastly different and the impacts from each sector are at opposite ends of the catch spectrum, Recfishwest believe there needs to be a review of crab management in the Cockburn Sound crab fishery. Part of this review should be assessing the suitability of reference levels and the relative impact of each sector with the intention to facilitate a summer recreational crab fishery.

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We were completely overwhelmed and extremely pleased by the number of responses received for the survey which encompassed all the crab fishing areas from the Swan River through to Geographe Bay.

We are hopeful your feedback and our submission will result in these fisheries being managed to provide great fishing experiences for many years to come.

For our full submission to the Department click below.

Recfishwest Submission on Lower West Coast Blue Swimmer Crabs

For the background story on crabs, click below.

https://recfishwest.org.au/news/breaking-news-crab-review/