NT Mud Crab Harvest Strategy

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NT Mud Crab Harvest Strategy

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NT Govt Press Release

Protecting Jobs and Keeping Mud Crab on the Menu
14 September 2017


In a boost for the Territory’s valuable mud crab fishery, and to ensure its long-term sustainability and the safety of the industry’s jobs, the Territory Labor Government has introduced the NT’s first mud crab harvest strategy.

Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Ken Vowles, said it was vital the strategy was developed in consultation with stakeholders through the Mud Crab Fishery Management Advisory Committee (MCFMAC), and that it is based on science.

“Mud crabs both create jobs and play a big role in our recreational lifestyle – the harvest strategy will ensure the sustainability of the fishery and provide increased certainty for all stakeholders,” Mr Vowles said. “It represents the best standard in contemporary fisheries management.

“Mud crab stocks experienced a decline after successive poor wet seasons between 2013 and 2016 in the Gulf of Carpentaria. They appear to be recovering and a strong 2016-17 wet season seems to have helped, but the harvest strategy will strengthen the fishery into the future, regardless of environmental conditions.”

The NT’s mud crab commercial fishery is worth around $4-5 million a year. The harvest strategy will provide a set of agreed performance indicators, trigger points and decision rules that define what actions will be taken when triggers are reached.

The NT Seafood Council was on the MCFMAC. CEO Katherine Winchester said being the first Territory fishery to introduce a harvest strategy was something to be proud of.

“In addition to industry meetings, workshops were held to bring people involved in the industry together, including licence holders, fishers, restaurants and even guest speakers from other fisheries to help explore and identify the best way forward for the fishery,” she said.

Mr Vowles said it is important to manage stocks sustainably, to meet the needs of all sectors.

“The development of this new harvest strategy provides all users with greater certainty about how decisions will be made in the future, and provides security for the industry and the people who work in it,” he said.


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