Spanner Threatened in Queensland by Clive Jones

Clive Jones is an Honours graduate in Science from Queensland University. Having majored in Zoology and Marine Biology he is greatly concerned about the stock depletion of commercial fish and especially in light of the over-exploitation of Barramundl in North Queensland waters. The fishing industry of Queensland, embracing both marine and fresh waters , has weathered some rough seas over the past decade. Now rich resources of fish and crustacean species, many of which have as yet an unquantified potential, are being over· exploited by fishermen who choose to ignore regulations in order to make quick dollars. The Barramundi (Lates ca/carifer) and Mud ( serrata), both regarded as delicacies in Queensland and throughout Australia, have been exploited to the point of becoming endangered species. Such a situation has arisen from the illegal methods used by unscrupulous professionals and underhanded amateurs. An extensive Spanner Crab. Photograph - Clive Jones. black market has developed whereby illegally caught Barramundi and Western Australia to the Great Barrier It is the ease with which large undersized Mud Crabs are supplied to Reef and south as far as Sydney. As do numbers of crabs can be caught, the southern outlets. all other members of the family simplicity of catching methods and the Recently ~ new commodity has Raninidae, the Spanner Crab burrows in small monelary outlay on equipment that appeared on the scene which, offshore and coastal muds and sands, lures the amateur fisherman . Fishing for unfortunately, may follow the trend generally at depths of between six and Spanner Crabs for the family and friends established by the above species. The two hundred metres. is an absolutely acceptable weekend Spanner or Frog Crab (), Until now this creature has not been leisure activity; however, the possibility has become the centre of a controversy familiar 10 the public, although fishermen of gaining money by selling the crabs between professional and amateur have known of its occurrence for many has attracted unscrupulous and fishermen in southern Queensland. years. Trawlermen often find numerous unthinking people. Unlike the Barramundi or Mud Crab, the individuals in their haul, whilst anglers Recently it has been announced that Spanner Crab is being threatened by wading in shallow water at low tide a closed season will operate on exploitative methods which are at occasionally disturb them. Barramundi fishing in an attempt to present quite legal. The Spanner Crab is usually seen as a cu rtail over-exploitation by poachers. It The consequent publicity that this bright red, frog-like creature which is this sort of measure wh ich must be small, inoffensive crustacean has emerges from the substrate, scurries taken to prevent a similar depletion of received has done wonders for its along for a few metres and then buries Spanner Crab populations. Firstly, the marketing potential; however, it has also itself under a cloud of sand. The crabs loophole in the law which allows increased the likelihood of stock lie under the sand with only the front amateur crab fishermen to dispose of depletion by weekend fishermen. margin of the carapace and the crabs through the $20 permit system, Amateurs are disposing of crabs eyestalks protruding. This position is designed for surplus fish catches, must through the Queensland Fish Board, by maintained in anticipation of prey be closed. means of a $20 permit system designed approaching, usually small wh iting or In addition, Fisheries Services should to sell surplus amateu r catches. It is other fishes, which are seized with the stipulate calch quotas for afl\ate urs and apparent however, that this permit inwardly directed claws. It is the enforce laws which prevent amateurs system applies only to fish caught on a appearance of these claws which selling directly to the public, restaurants hand line or rod and not to crabs which confers the name of Spanner Crab. and 10 the black market. Education of can be caught in great numbers with Although small numbers are taken by the public in matters of conservation is little effort. Two men can catch over one trawlers or hand held lines, the major essential. thousand crabs within four hours using a threat being posed to the total It must be realised that fish stocks are legal limit of four nets each. population is by the fishermen using finite, that there is a definite limit to the Although the present dispute has crab dillies. Th ese nets consist simply of number of a species which can be taken erupted locally, in southern Queensland, a galvanized steel hoop approximately without adversely affecting populations, the Spanner Crab is not restricted to this one metre in diameter cove red with a and that over·exploitation can lead to area. The species ranges throughout the double layer of fine netting with a mesh extinction. For those who choose to Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa and size of about 10 centimetres. Nets are remain ignorant of these facts and who the Indonesian Archipelago to Japan and baited with fish carcasses and lowered are only interested in short term Hawai i. on a floated line to the bottom. Within 20 monetary gains, the law should be In Australia the distribution of Ranina minutes the dillies can be lifted, with to designed and enforced to discourage ranina extends from the Abrolhos in or more crabs tangled in the netting. such exploitation. ~ 4 habitat