SEASONED and novice fishers are being urged to respond to an online survey set to help guide future management of the blue swimmer crab fisheries in the Peel Harvey estuary and Swan River.
The research team behind the survey have spoken to fishers in the region about their opinions of the fishery, with their responses helping to guide the design of the online survey.
Lead researcher James Tweedley said many enthusiasts considered fishing for delicious blue swimmer crabs a staple of the WA summer.
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READ NOW“We want to understand more about what people want from their fishing trips, as well as their motivations for fishing, concerns about the fishery and opinion on management options,” he said.
“This kind of social survey of fishers’ attitudes has never been done before in WA.”
Fellow Murdoch researcher Michael Hughes said the survey will also help them understand how people think the fishery has changed over time.
The survey is completely anonymous and can be accessed at http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4067539/The-social-dimension-of-Blue-Swimmer-Crab-fishing.
It will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
The questionnaire is part of a three-year study investigating the social and economic aspects of blue swimmer crab and black bream fisheries, entitled Golden Fish.