Paddle Crabs

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Best Fish Guide: Paddle Crabs

 Ranking: D ( Amber - Concerns)

What's this?

 Description: Paddle crabs are found around New Zealand and southern Australia, where it is widely distributed in sandy, shallow waters. In New Zealand they are mainly caught off the east coast of the North Island, from the eastern Bay of Plenty northwards.

Ecological concerns: There is limited research on paddle crabs, resulting in the unknown sustainability of recent catch levels, uncertainty over stock status and basic biological information. There is also no management plan and some concern about habitat damage caused by the fishing methods, particularly when caught as bycatch in trawl and dredge fisheries.

Economic value: Paddle crabs are sold in New Zealand and Japan.

Best option: Paddle crabs caught using cray pots. Avoid crabs caught as bycatch in trawl and dredge fisheries.

ASSESSMENT OUTPUT

Biology and risk of overfishing (score B)
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score D)
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score D and B)
Management and management unit (score E and D)

For a full ecological assessment, click here