Overview
The giant crab fishery is a comparatively small fishery with the annual harvest set at 20.7 tonnes but with a high landed value of around $2 million.
The fishery has been commercially targeted since the early 1990s, moving from open access to limited entry.
Image: Giant CrabsManaging the fishery
The giant crab fishery is managed by individual transferable quotas under the provisions of the
Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and the
Fisheries (Giant Crab) Rules 2023.
For seasonal closure information for the Giant Crab Fishery, go to Fishing Seasons.
Total allowable catch
For the 2025/26 quota year, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the Tasmanian Giant Crab Fishery has been maintained at 20.7 tonnes, equating to 20 kilograms per unit.
2025/26 season landed giant crab catch
11 February 2026*
| 14.4 tonnes
| 69.6
|
*Includes catch reported from unloading reports for the months of December, January and February.
Giant Crab Project
Giant Crab Enhanced Data Collection - Innovative approaches to enhance data collection in the Victorian, South Australian and Tasmanian Giant Crab Fisheries.
For more information about this project, visit: Giant Crab Enhanced Data Collection.