As the NSW fishing industry moves forward into the future with quota managed fisheries, there is a need for industry to develop procedures and process on catching, holding and transporting Blue swimmer crab that would value add to the wild harvest sector’s product – particularly for the live sales market.
The current market is predominantly made of sales of cooked and raw blue swimmer crabs. An approx. price range of blue swimmer crab for 2015 / 2016 was $8.50 $9.00 per kilo. The live trade in blue swimmer crab in 2016 / 2017 is approx. $20.00 per kilo. A move to selling into the live market would provide a better return for effort and would help in maximizing return on investment in the blue swimmer crab quota fishery.
The “Live Blue Swimmer Crab” trade is in its infancy and it is timely to invest in technologies that will assist in lowering the mortality rates of these animals. Any investment now will accelerate the development of this fishery and ensure the best chance for the restructure of the NSW fishery to achieve its goals.ie viability and efficient use of a quota species.
The industry needs to have an easy to read handling guideline developed and training workshops to improve their access to the market and reduce mortality rates.
This report presents pivotal findings from an in-depth investigation into optimising live handling practices for the commercial Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus) industry in New South Wales (NSW), with the overarching goal of unlocking high-value live trade opportunities. Initiated in 2019, the research was conducted by an experienced team of scientists at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in Coopers Plains, Brisbane. The primary objective was to develop effective handling protocols to improve the survival rates of Blue Swimmer Crabs from capture to market, thereby increasing the volume and quality of crabs available for sale. The study combined extensive literature review, laboratory trials and stakeholder engagement to provide a practical framework for fishers wishing to pursue the live Blue Swimmer Crab market, focusing on methods to reduce stress, minimise mortalities and maximise marketable yields.
The spawning dynamics and early life history are largely unknown for BSC and GMC in NSW, as are spawning areas, sources and sinks, important juvenile nurseries, and the effect of environmental variability on both spawning and recruitment. While this has led to some limitations to management and uncertainty in the past, NSW have recently launched two major management initiatives for the species for which this information is essential: 1) management of commercial BSC and GMC harvest through share-linked catch quota; and 2) fisheries enhancement for BSC and GMC.
In 2017, the Commercial Fisheries Adjustment Program has seen the NSW Government subsidise the investments of many fishing businesses to access catch quota for BSC and GMC. Quota allocation depends on scientifically-based assessment of Total Allowable Catch (TAC). At present the only source of information on which to base TAC is historic catch and effort, but these are highly variable and the mechanistic factors underlying this variation are unclear. The recent NSW Marine Stocking Fishery Management Strategy outlines the development of release programs for both BSC and GMC. Effective implementation of this strategy relies on a thorough knowledge of the requirements of young crabs and the factors affecting their recruitment such that recruitment limitation can be identified and releases targeted to address it (see Taylor, 2017). Through a review of existing work on these species in other states, and consultation with managers and industry, we have identified targeted research questions that will directly enhance the capacity of NSW DPI-Fisheries to design and implement effective harvest management, fishery enhancement and restoration programs for BSC and GMC. The need for this information is especially evident in the attached letters of support from commercial and recreational stakeholders, and the contribution of $250K cash from the NSW Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust.
