FISHERIES Minister Craig Wallace is encouraging fishers across Queensland to have their say on Queensland's fisheries regulations - especially in relation to mudcrabs.
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"I am very interested in finding out what recreational fishers think about a limited take of female mudcrabs," Mr Wallace said.
"Protection measures have been in place for jennies in Queensland for about 120 years, and - while we need to continue to ensure sustainability of female mudcrabs - I am interested in what fishers think about a relaxing of restrictions."
It has been illegal since the 1890s to take any female mudcrabs in Queensland - which has created an abundance of jennies in Queensland waters.
Since that time, fishers have only been allowed to catch male muddies, so 'bucks' rarely grow larger than 15 centimeters before they are caught.
"Fishing experts tell me that once females grow to more than 16cm, they can no longer breed as they find it difficult to mate with smaller males.
"Often families go crabbing and only catch one or two big females, so I am asking what Queenslanders think about allowing a limited take of these big jennies, to restore a bit of balance to Queensland's mud crab population.
"An appropriate take could be, for example, one large female per boat per fishing trip, or per person per fishing trip, or a limited number of females for a specific period of time.
"This is about getting the balance right between sustainability and Queenslanders' right to enjoy recreational fishing.
"We have some of the world's best seafood on offer here, and as a keen fisherman myself, I want fishers to be able to enjoy the sensational catches our waters have to offer while sustaining stocks for the future.
"I also regularly get feedback from fishers that some of our regulations can be confusing, such as the various size limits which apply for the take of cod.
"Different bag limits for different species can lead to uncertainty when fishing and I would be interested to hear from fishers how these rules could be simplified."
