Public consultation is now open on proposed changes to blue swimmer crab rules in the West Coast bioregion to make the rules easier to understand and to provide better fishing experiences for recreational fishers.
The proposed changes would bring in one set of bag and boat limit rules in the West Coast bioregion, which runs from Black Point east of Augusta to the Zuytdorp Cliffs north of Kalbarri.
The current closed season from the Swan and Canning rivers to Minninup beach south of Bunbury (including the waters of all rivers and estuaries in this area) would also be extended by a month to December 31 each year.
According to the marine waters online fact sheet WA’s annual blue swimmer crab commercial catch usually exceeds 500 tonnes – making up more than half Australia’s total catch of this species.
The remainder are caught in South Australia, southern Queensland and New South Wales.
Blue swimmer crabs are fished commercially in bays and estuaries along the WA coast, with the major fisheries including Shark Bay, Nickol Bay in the Pilbara and the Peel-Harvey Estuary.
Hundreds of tonnes of blue swimmer crabs are also caught each year by WA recreational fishers, with popular areas including Geographe Bay near Busselton, Leschenault Estuary near Bunbury, the Peel-Harvey Estuary, the Swan River, Shark Bay and Nickol Bay.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) fisheries management officer Sara Monaghan said changing the season opening date to January 1 was being considered following feedback from recreational crab fishers who reported catching undersize crabs in December.
“Starting the season a month later will allow more crabs to moult to legal size before they are caught, helping to enhance fishing experiences,” she said.
DPIRD research scientists monitor blue swimmer crab stocks across the region, including in Cockburn Sound and the Peel Harvey Estuary and the latest science shows stocks remain at sustainable levels.
Ms Monaghan said the proposal was to introduce a standardised individual bag limit of 10 crabs and a boat limit of 20 crabs (with two or more licensed fishers on board) across the entire West Coast bioregion making it easier for fishers to understand and stick to the fishing rules.
“Crabbing is a great recreational fishing experience enjoyed by many West Australians and their families in the Swan River, Cockburn Sound, the Peel Harvey Estuary and Geographe Bay,” she said.
“Simplifying the rules for catching blue swimmer crabs will help to ensure that fishers continue to have enjoyable and sustainable recreational fishing experiences into the future.”
Ms Monaghan said all recreational fishers were encouraged to take part in the consultation process and have their say on the future rules for blue swimmer crab fishing in the West Coast bioregion.
The public consultation runs until Wednesday, April 15 and feedback can be made via Have your say.
DPIRD said any feedback received through the consultation would help inform any changes to the recreational crab fishing rules for the West Coast bioregion ahead of the opening of the 2026/27 summer season.
This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 16 March 2026.
