The blue swimmer crab fishery in Western Australia’s Peel-Harvey inlet is seeking Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
Western Australia’s Fisheries Minister Ken Baston announced the world-first collaboration, where both the recreational and commercial components of a fishery jointly undergo independent third party sustainability certification.
The Minister said the State Government’s $14.5 million certification fund had led to almost all of WA’s commercial fisheries being pre-assessed under the MSC standard. The Shark Bay and Exmouth Gulf Prawn fisheries have also entered the full assessment process.
Mandurah’s commercial fishers have been collaborating with Recfishwest to take part in the rigorous and independent scientific evaluation of the local crab fishery, which will take 12 to 18 months to complete.
The Minister said the Mandurah Licensed Fishermen’s Association was also seeking accreditation for the estuary’s sea mullet.
“The Mandurah community love their blue swimmer crabs and the recreational fishing enjoyment it provides. People who don’t fish themselves love the prospect of buying local crabs and fresh fish from seafood suppliers,” said Mr Baston.
“The community is placing an increasing importance on purchasing sustainable seafood and this is reflected by moves by some major supermarket chains to require third party certification of all seafood products they stock.”
