giant_crab.html  

There is a minimum size limit of 150 millimetres and a maximum size limit of 215 millimetres. There are also season closures to protect breeding females and the predominant moulting period for males.

There are currently about 5 or 6 vessels targeting giant crabs.

The fishery began in 1992. Prior to then, giant crabs were taken as a by-catch of the rock lobster, shark and trawl fisheries. Giant crabs are predominantly taken from depths between 150 metres and 300 metres.


The fishery commenced with a few vessels and expanded quickly. In 1993 (its second year as a targeted fishery) catches exceeded 200 tonnes. The catch peaked at 260 tonnes in 1994 and then declined. This is believed to be because the virgin biomass was quickly located and fished down. This is supported by anecdotal information from the fishers involved in developing the fishery. The fishery was developed by 6 to 8 vessels, which took at least 75% of the catch.

It is important to recognise that with so few vessels taking the majority of the catch, changes in the catch may reflect changes in fishing activity of one or two of the vessels, and may not be related to stock abundance. This had to be factored into the assessment of the state of the fishery. However, concern about the apparent decline in the catches was supported by what the fishers were seeing in their traps, and by how they were shifting their effort to maintain high catch rates.

The fishery was first established on the north-west coast and moved south. It was established in similar depth waters on the north-east coast, but with a smaller quantity being taken.

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