Researchers from the Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) have discovered a rare species of crab as part of a project exploring deepwater habitats off Western Australia’s north west coast.  

The bright red crab has been identified as Paralomispapua by the WA Museum.

The research, funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) on behalf of the Australian Government, is exploring what other high-value crustacean stocks may exist to help expand the value of WA’s west coast deep sea crustacean managed fishery.      The research work has previously identified other potential commercially viable species including red royal prawns, red reef lobster, mud rock lobster, slipper lobsters and scampi species.

DPIRD Offshore Crustaceans research scientist Jack Parker said the latest discovery of a bright red crab could be promising for the fishery’s future.

“This is the sixth species we have unearthed as part of the research,” Mr Parker said. “Work is continuing with the likelihood of other new species being discovered that could be commercially viable in the future.”

Mr Parker said collaboration with fishers and using deep-sea cameras had been vital to this research.

“We have been deploying cameras to illuminate the deep and remote locations of the fishery to learn about the habitat and get an overview of the floral and faunal species present in unfished areas to build our knowledge base.”