DPIRD Fisheries Pop Up Crab Trap Exchange Day - Evans Head

The Evans Head pop-up exchange program aims to encourage local fishers to move away from traditional witches hat nets by providing an environmentally friendly crab fishing alternative. 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. The lightweight nature of the steel ring in witches-hat nets, allows them to move location during tidal movements and be lost to the fisher, which then continues to ghostfish. The exchange program also supports moving away from rectangular crab traps as these have large entrances and are known to have a turtle bycatch issue.

The exchange day has two responsible gear types – round crab traps and lift nets.

You can exchange a witches hat for a FREE lift net

Or, you can exchange a rectangular crab trap for a FREE round crab trap

Or, you can exchange two witches hats for a FREE round crab trap

(Limited to a total of two exchange per person).

For more details on how to crab fish responsibly and modify your gear – https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-skills/responsible-fishing-guidelines/crab-traps-preventing-turtle-drownings

Location - Cribb Reserve, Parks St, Evans Head NSW 2473

Registration - All attendees on the day are required to register. Up to two nets/ traps per person are available. Parking is available near the site.

This crab gear exchange is run with the assistance of our dedicated Fishcare Volunteers.