Giant Crab Rule Changes

​​​​ Giant crabs

Public comment on the draft Giant Crab Management Plan closed on 27 November 2023.

The current management plan, known as the Fisheries (Giant Crab) Rules 2013, is scheduled to expire at the end of February 2024. ​A new draft Giant Crab Management Plan was open for public comment from 27 Septemeber until 27 November 2023.

An information paper explaining the proposed changes to the new draft Management Plan can be downloaded below.  

​Proposed changes

The proposed changes contained in the draft Giant Crab Management Plan apply to the Tasmanian commercial giant crab fishery.

The draft Management Plan is based on the existing rules and incorporates several proposed changes. The primary focus of these changes is to strengthen compliance within the giant crab fishery, with a particular emphasis on monitoring the number of giant crab traps used by commercial giant crab fishers.

The proposed changes included:

1) A one-month male giant crab closed season;
2) A maximum set time of 21 days for giant crab traps set in waters deeper than 120m;
3) A maximum of 20 traps on a giant crab longline;
4) leaving port report and entering port reports;
5) A process for recording dead giant crab found on a fishing vessel.​


Consultation documents

​Draft legislation

 Draft Fisheries (Giant Crab) Rules 2023 

Consultation Paper

Giant Crab-Rules-Review-Public-Consultation-Paper 


Contact

Wild Fisheries Management Branch
Level 3, 134 Macquarie Street
GPO Box 44
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6165 30001300 368 550
Email: fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au


    Hotline

    Fishwatch Report illegal fishing

    0427 655 557

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    Contact us

    Recreational Fishing

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    Hobart TAS 7000

    Phone: (03) 6165 3233, 1300 720 647

    Email: fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Commercial Fisheries

    Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

    Email: commercial.fisheries@nre.tas.gov.au

    Commercial Fisheries Licensing

    Level 1, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

    Email: fishing.licensing@nre.tas.gov.au