Fisheries Queensland observers are helping commercial mud crabbers trial a new device that aims to reduce bycatch of under-sized mud crabs and potentially increase catch rates of legal-sized mud crabs.
Fisheries Queensland observer coordinator Dr Julia Davies said the mud crab escape vents are now being tested by numerous commercial fishers throughout Queensland.
"The mud crab escape vents were developed by Dr Mark Grubert and his team at the Northern Territory Fisheries Division," Dr Davies said.
"Following success in the Northern Territory, Fisheries Queensland is working with fishers to trial the vents in the Queensland crab fishery.”
She said that results from the Northern Territory showed a reduction in the catch rate of under-sized crabs of up to 40% and an increase in catch rate of legal-sized males of up to 30%, and she is hoping to see a similar result for Queensland fishers.
"There are also other benefits, such as juvenile crabs can exit pots without being damaged or cannibalised by other crabs”, she said.
