Crab trappers must follow rules

The Department of Primary Industries is appealing to fishers to do the right thing following a recent spate of crab trapping offences in the Wallis Lake area.

There have been several illegal crab trapping offences detected on the NSW north coast.

“We are particularly concerned that both recreational and commercial crab trappers get it right as blue swimmer and mud crabs are plentiful this Easter period,” said DPI Fisheries officer Michael Koukoulas.

“While we want people to enjoy fishing for these delicacies, it is important that they obey the rules if we are to have a sustainable crab fishery.”

Recreational crabbers are allowed one crab trap per person, and five hoop or lift nets, of legal size.

The buoy attached to a recreational trap must be marked with the words “crab trap”, followed by the name of the person setting the trap.

The traps used by commercial fishers should be marked with the letters “FL”, followed by the file number of the commercial fisher and the letters “F” for fish trap or “C” for crab trap.

Importantly, only the owner of a trap should use or lift it. It is an offence for any person to interfere with any set fishing gear other than their own.

Interfering with any set fishing gear is a serious offence, and any incident of theft from, or of, a crab trap will be reported to the police.

People found crabbing illegally face fines of up to $22,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment.

Information regarding recreational fishing gear, fish size and bag limits, and other fishing rules may be found at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries, or by contacting your local DPI Fisheries office, or reputable bait and tackle sores.

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