Catch Composition of the Sand Crab Fishery in Moreton Bay

Abstract

The sand crab industry of Moreton Bay is an expanding fishery. Nets are used in the south of the bay and pots in the north. Three principal grounds are fished within the bay and these yield catches of differing composition. A tendency to sexual schooling is apparent, large males predominating in catches from the southern bay, while the sexes are equally well represented in the north, where the mean size of the males is less. The crabbing grounds vary in productivity, the Scarborough ground producing almost twice as many marketable crabs as the Woody Pt. ground. The percentage of crabs taken that are marketable varied from 55 per cent, in the Cleveland area to 43 per cent. at Scarborough and 34 per cent. at Woody Pt. Female crabs in berry were taken at sizes from 4 to 7.1 in. (carapace width). Sacculina-infested crabs were far more numerous on the Woody Pt. grounds than elsewhere. It is recommended that the legal size limits and the restrictions on the take of female crabs be continued, but that Sacculina-infested crabs be accepted for market.