Seven recreational crabbers have been fined a total of $30,000 in the Mandurah Magistrates Court this week.
In January this year, DPIRD fisheries officers spotted a group of three fishers from Henley Brook aged, 32, 36 and 37 crabbing at the Len Howard Reserve in Mandurah.
On their return to shore, fisheries officers located 72 blue swimmer crabs of which 66 were under the legal size, with one being an egg-carrying female.
On a separate occasion in January at the same location, fisheries officers inspected the catch of three male fishers who had been scooping for crabs.
Two Ellenbrook men aged 30 and 39 years and a 42-year-old from Aveley were found to be in possession of 96 crabs of which 94 were undersized.
All crabs were seized and returned to the water.
In another matter in December 2025, fisheries officers observed a 55-year-old man from Alkimos scooping for crabs off Pleasant Grove Reserve in Falcon.
On inspection of his catch, the fisher was found to have 75 blue swimmer crabs, all but one being undersize.
Fishing rules for blue swimmer crabs in the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary includes a daily bag limit of 10 legal size crabs which must measure a minimum of 127mm from the tips of the spikes across the widest part of the shell.
DPIRD Senior Operations Manager Mark Kleeman said it was important for recreational fishers to stick to the rules and follow bag and size limits to protect the sustainability of the State’s crab fisheries.
“Our Fisheries and Marine Officers are regularly on patrol and those caught breaking the rules do face fines and penalties,” he said.
“With the summer crabbing season approaching, it’s important to make sure you know the crab rules for your fishing area before you head out and to measure each crab as you catch it, carefully returning undersize or berried crabs to the water.”
The summer crabbing season opens on December 1.
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