Man fined thousands for keeping dozens of undersize blue swimmer crabs caught off Coodanup Foreshore

Wednesday, 19 August 2026 12:47

By Monique Welhan

The man had a haul of undersize crabs. PIC: DPIRD

A 37-year-old man has been fined $3364 for taking dozens of undersize blue swimmer crabs from the Coodanup Foreshore.

Fisheries and Marine Officers were patrolling the area in February this year when they located the man with 43 crabs in his possession.

The daily bag limit for blue swimmer crabs in the West Coast region is 10, meaning the man had exceed the daily limit by 33 crabs.

Of the catch, 42 crabs were also found to be under the permitted size of 127mm.

All crabs were returned to the water.

In a separate matter in the Mandurah Magistrates Court last week, a 37-year-old man from Greenfields was fined $839 for using a net to fish in closed waters.

In October 2025, Fishers and Marine Officers observed the man on board a boat in the canal waters of Dudley Park using a throw net to catch fish.

Officers spoke to the man and he confirmed he had caught two mullet using the net.

Fishing with a net is prohibited in closed waters including rivers, estuaries, inlets and lakes.

As this was not the man’s first net fishing offence, the magistrate imposed an additional penalty of suspending his recreational net fishing licence for a period of six months and he was also prohibited from possessing a fishing net for six months.

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 fisheries.

“Our Fisheries and Marine Officers are regularly on patrol and those caught breaking the rules do face fines and penalties,” he said.

Anyone who suspects illegal fishing activity should call FishWatch on 1800 815 507 or report the matter via the online form on Crimestoppers.