Management action is needed on mud crabs
Have your say in our 5-min survey now, to help inform AFANT’s advice to NT Fisheries
Each year, in accordance with the Mud Crab Fishery Harvest Strategy, NT Fisheries conducts a performance assessment of the NT Mud Crab Fisheries. There are two separate mud crab fisheries in the NT, the Arafura West (Nhulunbuy to the WA border) and Gulf of Carpentaria, each are understood to represent a single biological stock. In 2025, the performance indicators hit a “trigger” point for the Arafura West (AW) fishery, and this requires “medium level” management action to be taken.
For the commercial sector (responsible for approximately 70% of the AW catch), the harvest strategy provides that for medium level action, there should be a 6-week commercial crabbing closure during the peak spawning season (October 1 to December 31). The harvest strategy is less prescriptive about the required action for the recreational and tourism sectors in the Arafura West, however, it stipulates the need to “Implement appropriate management options, including assessment of the impact of recreational fishing in specific areas.”
In response to reviewing the performance indicators, the commercial sector (Mud Crab Licensee Committee & the NT Seafood Council) announced support for a stronger measure, a 12-week commercial closure (adding a 6-week voluntary closure to the 6-week mandatory closure) with the aim of supporting a faster recovery of stocks. This represents a strong stewardship position from the industry.
AFANT knows that most recreational fishers will understand the need for our sector to also engage constructively with measures to support sustainable resource management. We recognise the strong commitment to sustainability evidenced by the commercial sector’s initiative to double the commercial closure from 6 to 12 weeks.
We also recognise that for many recreational fishers being able to access some mud crabs during the build-up and the festive season is important. This is why, as we prepare our advice for NT Fisheries, we are asking you about the kinds of management responses you would support to ensure that recreational fishers (responsible for around 30% of AW harvest, concentrated around Darwin Harbour, Shoal Bay and Bynoe Harbour) play our part in supporting the recovery of mud crab stocks.
Please help inform our response to the Department by answering a few short questions. The survey should take less than 5 minutes.
