Crab

Mud Crab  |   Blue Swimmer Crab  |   Spanner Crab

Queensland’s commercial crab fishery includes three core species — mud crabs, blue-swimmer (sand) crabs, and spanner crabs — each managed under quota-based systems, strict gear rules, and biological protections.  Renowned for their flavour, these crabs are a favourite in homes, restaurants and seafood markets.

The mud crab fishery (symbol C1) is divided into the East Coast and Gulf of Carpentaria regions and operates with individual transferable quotas. Commercial fishers must hold a licence, report catch via logbooks and trip notices, use vessel tracking, and follow gear restrictions such as limits on pots and dillies. Female mud crabs may not be retained, and minimum carapace size is set at 15 cm.

The blue-swimmer crab fishery also falls under the C1 symbol and is managed by a statewide individual transferable quota. Commercial operators use pots, trotlines, or dillies (subject to limits based on how many fishery symbols they have) and must comply with reporting and vessel tracking. Female blue-swimmer crabs are protected, and the minimum carapace width for retained crabs is 11.5 cm.

Spanner crabs (symbol C2/C3) are managed separately by region (Managed Area A and B), with a total allowable commercial catch, individual quota, and a seasonal spawning closure (1 November to 15 December). Fishers must use dillies of specific design and mesh, and must not take berried (egg-bearing) females; the minimum carapace length is 10 cm.

Total quota entitlements are significant: as of current legislation, the blue-swimmer crab quota is ~263,000 kg, the east coast mud crab quota is ~770,000 kg, the Gulf mud crab quota is ~108,000 kg, and spanner crab quota for Managed Area A is around 847 t.

Source: Business Queensland