Blowering Dam closed to Murray cray fishers for five years

Blowering Dam near Tumut has been closed to Murray cray fishers for five years in order to give the dam’s cray population an opportunity to recover. It remains open to anglers fishing for fin fish.

The annual four-month Murray crayfish season, which opened on 1 May, is still open in all other waters except for notified trout waters.

Murray cray, which are mainly found in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Edward Rivers, need to be protected from over-fishing because of their very slow growth rate.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Senior Fisheries Manager (Inland) Cameron Westaway said that Blowering Dam would remain closed to cray fishing for five years when the situation would be reassessed. 

“Blowering Dam has only been open to cray fishers once in the past five years. After last season, and following consultation with fishing groups and NSW DPI researchers, it was decided to close the dam for a period of time in an effort to restore and protect cray numbers,” he said.
 
Mr Westaway said extremely dry weather conditions and the low dam level had contributed to a reduction of cray numbers in the dam.

He reminded fishers that they should ensure that they know the rules for catching this prized native species in waters where no closures apply. 

The rules are:

  • A daily bag limit of five applies to Murray crayfish with a total of 10 in possession. They must have a carapace (head) length of at least nine centimetres long, but only one crayfish greater than 12 centimetres may be kept.
  • Murray crayfish can only be taken during the months of May, June, July and August.
  • A ban applies to taking Murray crayfish in trout waters.
  • Any female crayfish taken that are carrying eggs must be returned to the water immediately. Removing claws, head or tail in, on or adjacent to water, is also banned.
  • Five hoop nets per person are permitted with the user's name and address on the float.    

Murray crayfish measuring devices and brochures, which also provide details of areas closed to Murray cray fishing, are available free from NSW DPI Fisheries offices.  For further information contact your local NSW DPI Fisheries office.

 

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