Fisheries compliance officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) were led on a pursuit around Derby on Sunday after a local 69-year-old man, towing a boat, failed to stop when requested.
The officers followed the man for nearly an hour, before police intervened and stopped him.
Upon inspecting the vessel, officers located 19 mud crab pieces and a trap.
The man’s 4.2m aluminium open boat with a 40hp outboard motor, was seized and will be held by the department until the case can be heard in court.
It will be alleged the Derby man obstructed officers in carrying out their duties, took twice the legal limit of mud crabs, did not land the crabs whole, and mutilated those crabs. It will also be alleged he was in possession of a trap adjacent to waters where they are prohibited.
The daily bag limit for mud crabs is five. A minimum size limit of 150mm (carapace width) is required to legally take green mud crabs, the minimum size limit for brown mud crabs 120mm.
In addition, mud crabs must be landed whole by fishers. This is required so compliance officers checking catches can determine whether they crabs are of legal size.
Mud crabs are found in Western Australia’s north-west from Shark Bay through to the Northern Territory border. They like sheltered waters such as estuaries and mangrove areas.
The only permitted means of taking mud crabs is by a drop or scoop net that complies with the rules. They can also be taken by hand or by using a blunt wire hook
Use of fish traps is prohibited in the ocean and any estuary, inlet, brook or stream due to the potential impacts on aquatic life - indiscriminately catching fish, crabs and a range of other wildlife, including protected species.
It is also an offence for a person to be in possession of traps on land adjacent to those waters.
If you see any fishing activity that you suspect may be unlawful, please call FishWatch on 1800 815 507 to report what you’ve seen.
The FishWatch reporting line is open 24/7 and your report is treated in the strictest confidence.
Photo caption: These mud crab pieces were found on the boat that was seized.
Media contact: Ashley Malone, DPIRD media liaison - mobile 0418 901 767
Print this page
