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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-11-02 Daily Xml
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Blue Swimmer Crabs

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister inform the chamber about the dedicated fisheries patrols targeting blue crabs over the past weekend and in recent months?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest. Blue swimmer crabs are an important species for both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors. Many thousands of South Australians enjoy getting out their crab nets and rakes as we head towards the warmer months, which are usually the sign for South Australian fishers that blue crabs should be on the move.

Fisheries officers regularly patrol the coastline to ensure that fishers are complying with the relevant rules, and the officers take the necessary action where people are identified breaking those rules. Those rules, of course, are incredibly important in terms of the sustainability of our resources. There are size limits and bag limits for recreational fishers to ensure that the sustainability of this important aquatic resource is protected, and these limits are enforced by our fisheries officers.

Between 27 to 30 October this year fisheries officers conducted dedicated patrols of some of the popular beaches for catching blue swimmer crabs, from St Kilda through to Port Parham and across the top of Yorke Peninsula. Over the four-day operation last week, 500 people were checked by fisheries officers. Unfortunately, a number of those people were detected breaking the rules, with a total of 35 people issued fines and some disappointing occurrences of undersized crabs being taken, as well as other offences.

In some of the more serious breaches over those four days, individuals were issued fines in excess of $1,400 for failing to obey the rules. Whilst we never want to have a heavy hand with fines, it is absolutely imperative that people respect the need for the sustainability of our resources, and that is why this kind of action is necessary.

Since September, and including last weekend's targeted patrols, fisheries officers have checked more than 1,200 recreational fishers targeting blue swimmer crabs. From these inspections they have issued over 120 fines totalling over $55,000 and seized over 2,500 crabs. It is disappointing that some fishers continue to break the rules, putting in jeopardy the sustainability of this important aquatic resource.

However, it does highlight the critical role that fisheries officers play in monitoring fishing activities to ensure the sustainability of our fish stocks for future generations. Of course, they also play an important educational role so that people do understand their responsibilities and also understand the reason it is important to obey the rules.

I remind fishers to ensure they understand the size limit and how to measure a crab properly before they go fishing. The size limit for blue swimmer crabs is 11 centimetres measured across the carapace from the base of the largest spine. Fishers can take a personal daily limit of 20, which is a combined limit with sand crabs. When boating, the daily boat limit, when three or more people are crabbing on board, is 60, which is also a combined limit with sand crabs.

It is important that all fishers know the rules before they go fishing, and it is recommended they download South Australia's free recreational fishing app, which provides fishers with all the information regarding the rules as well as updates on changes to fishing.

I would like to thank all the fisheries officers who attended from around the state for these dedicated patrols last week. They have an important role in compliance and operations such as we saw over the weekend, and their presence is an important reminder to everyone of the need to protect our marine resources.

The PRESIDENT: Supplementary question, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition.

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