COCKBURN SOUND CRABS SET TO RETURN: URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO PROTECT THEIR HABITAT FROM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

The community’s decade-long dedication and support for restoring a sustainable crab population was instrumental to improving the overall health of the marine environment. The reopening of the crab fishery on December 1st marks an exciting return of a crucial fishery on the doorstep of the Perth metropolitan area.

However, as the community celebrates this great crabbing comeback, the looming threat of Westport and other developments casts a dark shadow over the future of Cockburn Sound. This makes it even more pressing that we act now to ensure that Cockburn Sound’s vital habitat and social values are properly protected.

WESTPORT AND DEVELOPMENT: A THREAT TO RECOVERY

The proposed Westport Outer Harbour poses a severe risk to Cockburn Sound’s fragile ecosystem. Despite claims of economic growth and improved infrastructure, the environmental costs of this project are alarmingly high. Westport’s 15 years of dredging and construction along with other increased industrial activity may well devastate seagrass nursery habitats and jeopardise the crab fishery that has taken a decade to recover.

WHY WE MUST ACT NOW

After a decade of careful conservation, Cockburn Sound’s crab fishery is set to reopen on December 1, 2024. The 10-year closure of Cockburn Sound’s crab fishery was necessary to allow crab stocks to rebuilt and stabilise. This long-awaited reopening represents a significant milestone for Perth’s fishing community.

Environmental impact: The dredging and construction activities associated with the proposed Westport development’s will turn the sheltered waters of Cockburn Sound into soup-smothering seagrass meadows and destroying nursery areas. The planned 15 years’ dredging and construction activities threaten to undo a decade of careful management jeopardising the health of Cockburn Sound’s marine environment.st item

Social consequences: Reopening of the crab fishery should be celebrated as it will enhance opportunities and benefits for local fishing families. However, the destruction of Cockburn Sound’s habitat could rob the community of these benefits, leading to a collapse of the system, erasing years of hard-won progress and seeing important fisheries potentially closed forever

Ecosystem health: Crabs are a keystone species in Cockburn Sound, and are an important food source for snapper, octopus, dolphins and numerous other species. Crabs play a vital role in maintaining the balance of the Cockburn Sound marine ecosystem. Disrupting crab habitat will have cascading effects on the entire environment and undermine the ecological stability and health of Cockburn Sound.st item

TAKE ACTION: PROTECT COCKBURN SOUND

Raise awareness

Share information about the threats to Cockburn Sound and the importance of protecting its habitat. Sign up to be a supporter of Save Cockburn Sound and grab a sticker for your car or boat.

contact decision-makers

Reach out to government officials including your local member of parliament to voice your concerns about the continued industrialisation of Cockburn Sound and the environmental impacts of the Westport development.

support conservation efforts

Contribute to or volunteer with organisations working to protect Cockburn Sound and its marine environment.

We stand at a critical juncture as Cockburn Sound’s crab fishery prepares to reopen. Westport presents a grave threat to hard-won progress in restoring this important ecosystem. Now is the time to act decisively to protect Cockburn Sound for future generations. Join us in the fight to safeguard our marine environment and ensure a sustainable future for all who depend on it.

To ensure the future of Cockburn Sound’s crab fishery and the health of Cockburn Sound, the government needs to rethink the further planned industrialisation of Cockburn Sound. This includes conducting thorough environmental assessments, looking at cumulative impacts of all planned developments, implementing robust safeguards to minimise these impacts and exploring sustainable alternative locations for developments including the proposed port. The objectives of the proposed Westport Outer Harbour project must also be revised to prioritise environmental protection and social values above profits.