Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) researchers have discovered a rare species of crab as part of a project exploring deepwater habitats off Western Australia’s (WA) north west coast.
Being highlighted as part of National Science Week, the bright red crab has been identified as Paralomis papua by the WA Museum.
The research, funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) on behalf of the Australian Government, is exploring what other high-value crustacean stocks may exist to help expand the value of Western Australia’s West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Managed Fishery.
The research work has previously identified other potential commercially viable species including red royal prawns, red reef lobster, mud rock lobster, slipper lobsters and scampi species.
DPIRD Offshore Crustaceans research scientists Jack Parker said the latest discovery of a bright red crab could be promising for the fishery’s future.
“This is the sixth species we have unearthed as part of the research,” Mr Parker said.
“Work is continuing with the likelihood of other new species being discovered that could be commercially viable in the future.”
Mr Parker said collaboration with fishers and using deep-sea cameras had been vital to this research.
“We have been deploying cameras to illuminate the deep and remote locations of the fishery to learn about the habitat and get an overview of the floral and faunal species present in unfished areas to build our knowledge base,” he said.
This Western Australia’s West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Managed Fishery has Marine Stewardship Council certification and covers a large geographic area from Cape Leeuwin in the south to WA’s border with the Northern Territory and encompasses areas of the Indian Ocean and Timor Sea, bounded by Australia’s exclusive economic zone.
More information on this research project 2024-009 Exploring new resources for the West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Managed Fishery in Western Australia, can be found on the FRDC website.
