DPI will be holding pop-up exchange days in Coffs Harbour where fishers can exchange their witches hat or collapsible rectangular style traps for a new round crab trap or lift net (limited to one exchange per person).
The pop-up exchange program aims to encourage local fishers to move away from traditional witches hat nets by providing an environmentally friendly crab trap alternative. DPI staff will recycle the surrendered witches hat nets as far as possible. Witches-hats are made of very thin, entanglement mesh, which is inverted when set and can result in the incidental entanglement and drowning of turtles and other non-target species. Additionally, because of the lightweight nature of the steel ring in witches-hat nets, they can often move location during tidal movements and be lost to the fisher. This lost gear then continues to ghostfish.
The scheduled days are Saturday 28 January and Sunday 5 February 2023 at 8 Collison Pl, North Boambee Valley.
All attendees on the day are required to register via Eventbrite. Check out the links below.
Saturday 28th January 2023 – bit.ly/3WkWhOw
Saturday 5th February 2023 – bit.ly/3kExPd6
These crab gear exchange days are run with the assistance of Fishcare Volunteers and supported with funds from the Marine Estate Management Strategy.
