Crabber has to shell out

$13k fine for female and undersized muddies

FISHERIES Queensland has its claws out and slugged a Gold Coast crabber with a big fine for illegally taking female and undersized mud crabs.

The man was also caught with two crab pots marked with another fisherman’s name.

It comes as the owner of a popular bait shop at Arundel said he was being flooded with complaints from customers about dodgy crabbers flouting the law across the Coast.

The crabber was fined $13,000 after Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) officers caught up with him at a Paradise Point boat ramp.

Officers found him with 11 female and one undersized mud crab, Fisheries stated.

“During a later search of a property, a further 17 female and 12 undersized mud crabs were found as well as two crab pots marked with another fisher’s name.”

Female and undersized crabs must be removed from traps and quickly returned.

Paul Anderson, who owns The Bait Shop Gold Coast, said illegal crabbing was rife on the Coast and fishers could go years without being pulled up.

“It’s been going on for years. There’s always someone who wants to steal your pots, cut your pots open,” he said.

“Long story short, Fisheries are understaffed and that’s a problem throughout Queensland. It’s probably once every three years that guys get pulled over. It’s so rare. I worked on the water for 18 years and I wasn’t pulled over once.

“It is really good that Fisheries have made the penalties higher, but if you go on the water and you’re not getting pulled over, say once every 10 times you’re out, then people will think they can get away with it.”

Mr Anderson said female and undersized crabs were only targeted because there was a thriving black market for the crustaceans: “They’re selling them. Whether to friends, family or a shop.

“I have guys come in here trying to sell stuff to me and I go ‘mate, you’re not licensed’. They say it’s OK, but it’s not OK.”

A Fisheries Queensland spokesman said it had nine Gold Coast-based officers and fishers needed to know and abide by crabbing regulations, including size and possession rules: “Queensland’s fisheries resources are a natural resource owned by the community and everyone is responsible for ensuring they’re managed and fished sustainably.”

In 2019, 124 fisheries infringement notices were issued on the Gold Coast and 55 charges were laid against fishers. In 2020, 28 fisheries infringement notices have been lodged.

Female mud crabs are protected in Queensland.