With the warmer weather approaching, PIRSA Fisheries has issued a timely reminder to recreational fishers of the strict regulations that apply to blue swimmer crabs.

Blue swimmer crabs are traditionally a popular target at this time of year as the weather warms up and they begin to move closer to the shoreline of Gulf St Vincent.

Regional Manager Central South Randel Donovan said that strict size, bag and boat limits apply to blue swimmer crabs which are in place to ensure that the long-term sustainability of the fishery is protected.

“At this time of year we traditionally start to see a lot more recreational fishers along the beaches of upper Gulf St Vincent specifically targeting blue swimmer crabs,” Mr Donovan said.

“Fisheries officers will be patrolling all Gulf waters to keep an eye out of those people doing the wrong thing.

“We want to ensure that all fishers are aware of the regulations that apply to blue swimmer crabs so they do not put themselves in a position where they could face possible fines and loss of equipment.”

Blue swimmer crab rules at a glance:

• Daily bag limit of 40 per person (combined limits with sand crabs).
• Daily boat limit of 120 (combined limits with sand crabs).
• A minimum size limit of 11cm width measured across the carapace from the base of the largest spines also applies.
• It is illegal to take female crabs with eggs. These must be returned to the water straight away without harm.
• Recreational crab fishers are not permitted to sell or trade their catch.

Minister for the River Murray Paul Caica said during September that unrestricted boat lockages at the Goolwa and Tauwitchere Barrages will now be possible as a result of rising water levels.

Mr Caica said the higher water levels in the Goolwa Channel (75cm above sea level) and Lake Alexandrina (55cm above sea level) mean the lockages can be conducted without the risk of large volumes of saltwater entering either of the water bodies.

The Goolwa Barrage lock has been closed to boat traffic due to the risk of seawater incursion for more than 30 of the past 36 months.

The re-opening of the small, manually operated boat lock through Tauwitchere Barrage will provide direct access between the Coorong and Lake Alexandrina for the first time in two years.

“Water levels have been rising rapidly over the past month, and we are now in a position where we can reinstate unrestricted lockages at both of these barrages from today,” Mr Caica said.

“This is excellent news for boat operators in the region as well as local businesses and communities, who have been negatively impacted by the closed or restricted lock operations over recent years.”

Mr Caica said before the recent period of low water levels in the Goolwa Channel, the Goolwa Barrage was the most heavily utilised lock along the River Murray.

Unrestricted lockages at Goolwa Barrage mean boat owners can travel between Goolwa Channel and the Coorong and Murray Mouth every day. The lock at Goolwa barrage will operate between 8am and 12.30pm and between 1.30pm and 4.30pm each day.

Recreational fishers are reminded that the Southern Zone Rocklobster fishery will be closed for the whole of October.

Fisheries Minister Michael O’Brien announced in August that the 2010-11 Southern Zone Rocklobster season will be reduced by two months, cutting out October 2010 and May 2011.

The 2010-11 Southern Zone season will now run from November 1 to April 30. It will be illegal to fish for rocklobster within the Southern Zone outside of these dates.

This applies to both the Commercial and Recreational fishing sectors.

The Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for the Southern Zone Rocklobster fishery has also been reduced to 1250 tonnes for the 2010-11 season.

These restrictions have been implemented in an effort to constrain the catch and protect the long-term sustainability of the fishery.

The Northern Zone season remains unchanged.

Fisheries Minister Michael O’Brien has announced that South Australia has the “highest health status for wild-caught prawns in Australia”, according to a new report released by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).

Mr O’Brien said the good result reflects the success of controls in place to protect the $36 million industry.

He praised commercial and recreational fishers for their role in keeping South Australian waters free of potentially devastating prawn diseases.

“I welcome this news and congratulate the research sector and industry for working together to achieve a positive outcome,” Mr O’Brien said.

“It gives confidence to consumers that South Australian prawns are of the highest quality.”

The Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Fishermen’s Association also welcomed the news.

SARDI Prawn and Aquatic Animal Health scientist, Dr Shane Roberts, said the study showed that South Australian prawn nurseries are free of invasive pest species and exotic viruses affecting stocks in other Australian states and internationally.

“The ability of viruses to survive the freezing process has enabled some diseases to spread around the world in food products and ultimately cause dramatic declines in some fisheries,” he said.

Two Victorian men have been fined more than $33,000 combined after pleading guilty to a number of serious fishing offences in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court this week.

Colin Trevor O’Connor and Maxwell Charles Gregg, both from Mildura in Victoria’s northwest pleaded guilty and were convicted on five charges relating to illegal fishing within South Australia’s Cooper Creek section of the Lake Eyre Basin.

Mr O’Connor was fined a total of $18,598, while Mr Gregg received fines up to $14,898.

Both men have also been banned from being within 100 metres of Lake Eyre or any South Australian waterways leading into Lake Eyre while in possession of native fish, fishing nets or yabbie traps.

Senior Fisheries Officer with PIRSA Fisheries, Dave Grant, said that the case stemmed from a targeted patrol in the Coongie Lake National Park, North West of Innamincka in June 2009.

“We intercepted a vehicle and boat on June 17 last year and the two men were found to be in possession of illegal fishing equipment in a very remote area where commercial fishing is not permitted,” Mr Grant said.

“We seized an extensive amount of equipment including a boat, trailer, outboard motor, nine bags containing 18  gillnets, 63 illegal opera house yabbie nets, 23 wire yabbie traps, a quantity of live yabbies, and Lake Eyre Golden Perch, waders, Garmin GPS and camouflage material.

“This is a significant result, as the severity of the fines handed down accurately reflects the seriousness of the offences.

“With the added bans handed down, it effectively means Mr Gregg and Mr O’Connor won’t be able to undertake any type of fishing within the any water ways with in the South Australian section of the Lake Eyre Basin for a long time.

“These bans are indefinite and can only be overturned by another court order.

“This case sends a strong message to potential fishing offenders who may try to exploit the remoteness of the Cooper Creek and other water ways in the region.

The management of shark fishing in South Australia will be the topic of conversation at the Conservation Council of SA’s next Fish Forum in October.

‘Shark Fishing – The Good, The Bad, The Unknown’, will bring together speakers from PIRSA Fisheries, SARDI Aquatic Sciences and the Conservation Council of SA.

If you’d like to find out about how much of which shark species are being taken by whom, what the research is telling us, and what the conservation concerns are, then why not come along.

Wednesday, 13th October, 6.30 pm
Coglin Street Community Centre
Coglin Street (near the Central Markets)

RSVP to Alex Gaut: alex.gaut@ccsa.asn.au or call 8223 5155