As part of the 2010 review of DPIPWE has developed a draft harvest strategy The Department of the Environment considers that this the management plan DPIW containing performance indicators and recommendation is ongoing. to finalise new performance management responses. While this harvest The Department proposes that this action be continued indicators for the TGCF, and strategy has not yet been formally adopted, (see Recommendation 5, 4). ensure that appropriate DPIPWE has advised that it will be finalised management responses are following an assessment of the target and limit also developed should limits reference points currently being conducted by the be reached. Institute for Marina and Antarctic Studies (IMAS). DPIW to continue to monitor DPIPWE has monitored discards of undersized The Department of the Environment considers that this the impact of discarding of crabs through the Giant Crab Catch Record recommendation has been met. undersize on the giant Book. The most recent information available from crab stock and to implement 2009/10 indicates that there has been a general appropriate management reduction in catch rates of undersized crabs. measures should risks be In its submission to the Department, DPIPWE identified. that recent (unpublished) data have indicated that catch rates for undersized crabs have increased in the western zone of the fishery. According to the 2009 IMAS assessment of the fishery, catch rates for undersized crabs have traditionally been low in the western zone, with numbers falling to record lows in recent years. As the documented survival rate of released giant crabs is high, DPIPWE has concluded that there is no increased risk.
As part of the 2010 review of the management plan DPIW to finalise new performance indicators for the TGCF, and ensure that appropriate management responses are also developed should limits be reached. DPIPWE has developed a draft harvest strategy containing performance indicators and management responses. While this harvest strategy has not yet been formally adopted, DPIPWE has advised that it will be finalised following an assessment of the target and limit reference points currently being conducted by the Institute for Marina and Antarctic Studies (IMAS). The Department of the Environment considers that this recommendation is ongoing. The Department proposes that this action be continued (see Recommendation 5, 4). DPIW to continue to monitor the impact of discarding of undersize on the giant crab stock and to implement appropriate management measures should risks be identified. DPIPWE has monitored discards of undersized crabs through the Giant Crab Catch Record Book. The most recent information available from 2009/10 indicates that there has been a general reduction in catch rates of undersized crabs. In its submission to the Department, DPIPWE that recent (unpublished) data have indicated that catch rates for undersized crabs have increased in the western zone of the fishery. According to the 2009 IMAS assessment of the fishery, catch rates for undersized crabs have traditionally been low in the western zone, with numbers falling to record lows in recent years. As the documented survival rate of released giant crabs is high, DPIPWE has concluded that there is no increased risk. The Department of the Environment considers that this recommendation has been met.
tas-giant-crab-assessment-report-2014.docx