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Since November 2004 and the East Kimberley Regional Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee (EKRRFAC) the East Kimberley Sport and Gamefishing Club have been conducting redclaw trapping in Lake Kununurra.
The project was developed with the assistance of the Department of Fisheries and community members.
The aim of the trial was to investigate redclaw traps that minimised the risk of catching protected marine reptiles.
There has been more than 20,000 hours of trapping trials using eight different trap designs done in the lake by volunteers.
The trial's results can be used by decision makers to make rules that cover redclaw fishing with no potential impact on turtles and freshwater crocodiles.
In the first six months in 400 trap sets, more than 750 redclaw were caught and there was no crocodile by-catch.
Only one small turtle has been caught in Spillway Creek and it was released unharmed.
There has been a very low level of by-catch fish species comprising of mainly mouth almighties.
Cherabin were caught, but seemed to prefer deeper water than redclaw.
In the last five months a further 700 traps have been set and some of the information is now firming up about the best trap type, best bait and how long to set traps for.
Project coordinator Francis Bright said the results showed that redclaw could be caught with very little unwanted catch.
He also said that entrance rings were very important in keeping turtles and crocodiles out.
The catch rate was influenced by the moon, the depth of water, the bait used and where traps were set.
The trial has another month to run and then the results will be presented to the State RFAC recommending some rule changes for the use of redclaw traps in Lake Kununurra. |
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