There is a critical need to improve the management of the Shark Bay crab fishery, especially since its expansion to become the highest producing blue swimmer crab fishery in Australia. This rapid growth has caused scientific understanding of the stocks to lag behind, raising questions on the viability of current catch levels and a precautionary approach to management in the absence of adequate stock assessment. Recent declines in recruitment and catch rates have highlighted the need to address knowledge gaps on the factors influencing recruitment, biology and stock status of the Shark Bay crab fishery before a decision-rule framework can be developed to allow both sectors to fish this valuable resource to its sustainable level. A recent external scientific review confirmed this lack of knowledge is hindering the development of future effective management strategies and resource sharing arrangements. Determination of key fisheries and biological parameters and development of stock assessment models will empower scientists and managers to better understand the resource and make the best decisions for allocation between the trap, trawl and recreational sectors. A socio-economic analysis of individual fishers and collective industry business operations will identify the role, value and importance of blue swimmer crabs to the viability of the trap and trawl sectors. The social and economic role of the commercial and recreational crab fishery within the wider Gascoyne and Western Australian community will highlight direct and indirect benefits of this fishery, which are not fully understood at present.