Need More Information?

The Story of SOS Save Our Spider Crabs

Support NO-TAKE of Australia's Iconic Spider Crabs during their Moulting Season

This campaign calls for action in response to unprecedented intensive targeting and associated problems with collection methods used during the Giant Spider Crab moulting aggregation in 2019 and 2020.

BACKGROUND: The WORLD FAMOUS annual Giant Spider Crab aggregation is the largest known crab migration in the world. This natural and historic phenomenon takes place between the months of March - July each year in Port Phillip Bay and greater regions of Victoria, Australia. It has developed into an important and iconic event that thousands of people a year witness and has been featured on many documentaries across the globe including David Attenborough’s ‘Blue Planet II’ series. As such, these animals have a global following of enthusiasts. Each year nature lovers and film crews including the BBC eagerly await reports that ‘the crabs are in’ to travel from local, interstate and overseas destinations to experience the spider crabs. This mass moulting, and potential breeding event where the crabs moult their old, small shells to grow into their larger shells, has become a major tourist drawcard for the Mornington Peninsula - one that is known, revered and celebrated across the globe.

THE PROBLEM: Tens of thousands of crabs congregate in the shallows and under man-made piers which give them an added measure of safety from natural predators such as stingrays, small sharks, birds, octopuses and other crabs for whom the crabs are a primary winter food source during the most vulnerable stage of their lives. Whilst this grants the public easy access to view this incredible event, it also renders the crabs vulnerable to human predators. The 2019/2020 Spider Crab season has been subject to unprecedented crabbing activities with nets of crabs being dragged out of the ocean each day by the thousands. Not only is this distressing to thousands of Spider Crab enthusiasts - including locals and other members of the general public - but this intensive targeting during their moulting season potentially threatens the success of the Spider Crabs’ critical mass, their genetic diversity and possibly their capacity to recover in future generations. The crabs have evolved to congregate in this manner as they are incredibly vulnerable during their moulting phase. Their numbers afford them greater protection from natural predation, however, they simply cannot compete with the relentless crabbing activities currently taking place which exacerbates their vulnerability to further natural predation. In 2020 very few crabs that had aggregated beneath the piers on the Mornington Peninsula were able to complete their moulting process due to being intensively targeted. As the popularity of this Iconic event grows, crab fishing during the Spider Crab moulting season is increasing and is already having devastating effects in prominent locations like Blairgowrie and Rye Piers on the Mornington Peninsula. Intensive targeting of moulting aggregation events has been proven to have many associated concerns, such as marine environment damage and increased risks to the long-term tradition of in-water observation of this natural phenomenon. If left unaddressed we believe the intensive crab fishing will only escalate, impacting long-standing social and cultural values and potential economic value as a major winter tourism drawcard.

THE SOLUTION: We are asking the Victorian Government and the Victorian Fishing Authority to enact new legislation, ratify changes to existing legislation and enforce the following: - An immediate introduction of a 'No-Take season of Giant Spider Crab during their critical aggregation and moulting period of April- July each year in order to offer an adequate measure of protection to this unique tourist drawcard species with high community value at the peak of their vulnerability

- Victorian government immediately fund research into better management of the Giant Spider Crab population for the benefit of the local natural ecosystem and future generations. The Iconic Giant Spider Crabs are endemic to southern Australian waters and deserve appropriate stewardship.

- An effective communication campaign supporting the incoming changes to educate the greater fishing community for compliance.

-Increase in patrols by Fisheries officers during the aggregation period to enforce the new legislation and issue penalty notices accordingly.

ACTION: Please help us to ensure our Iconic Giant Spider Crab Migration phenomenon remains accessible to the general public and can continue each and every year without being subjected to intensive targeting during their moulting season. Our Home page lists 5 important ways you can show your support for this campaign to help achieve better outcomes ahead of the next much-anticipated Australian Giant Spider Crab moulting aggregations.