SOS SAVE OUR SPIDER CRABS
#saveourspidercrabs
Submit A Personal Letter
Be a Force for Good
A personal submission in your own words will have far greater impact than signing a template letter which can get 'lost' in an inbox. (REQUEST No-Take Season.) Follow these easy steps:
1. Use these guiding points and re-word in your own words:
* I’m concerned about the intensive harvesting of iconic Australian Giant Spider Crabs from popular piers in Port Phillip Bay, the heart of the world renowned and loved annual spider crab migration.
* Intense targeting of the spider crabs commenced on the Mornington Peninsula in 2019 and escalated in 2020, resulting in the harvesting of large numbers of crabs during their important moulting aggregations, broad community outrage, marine environmental destruction, pollution and increased safety risks to the general public.
* I oppose the the recent bag limit reduction which will in no way address the concerns of 34,000+ petition signatories and members of the local and global community. A no-take period is the solution to safeguard this incredible marine and tourism tourism. * To date there has been no recent, reliable, comprehensive scientific research conducted to determine the number of spider crabs in Port Phillip Bay. Without the science to indicate the sustainability of removing potentially large numbers of spider crabs during their moulting and potential breeding times, harvesting during this critical time of their life stage should not be permitted.
* The natural phenomenon of the spider crab moulting aggregations have much greater potential economic benefit and winter tourism value to the region than being harvested en masse.
* I urgently seek your support for a seasonal no-take period to safeguard the annual spider crab moulting aggregations, from April-July inclusive each year.
2. Insert your own thoughts/opinions/experiences in addition.
3. Sign the letter with your name, postal address, email and phone number.
4. Address and email your letter to the Victorian Fisheries Authority and the three Ministers:
* Victorian Fisheries Authority:
* The Hon. Melissa Horne – Minister for Fishing & Boating:
Melissa.Horne@parliament.vic.gov.au
* The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio – Minister for Environment:
lily.dambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au
* The Hon. Martin Pakula – Minister for Tourism:
martin.pakula@parliament.vic.gov.au
(Please also bcc:
and
(so we can capture how many people are taking the action).
On behalf of the SOS #saveourspidercrabs campaign, we thank you for making such a significant effort in supporting a mutually beneficial outcome to all stakeholders connected to the iconic annual Giant Spider Crab aggregations.