Fishing Rules

A 12-MONTH Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol surveillance operation in north Queensland has resulted in 25 people being charged with interfering with crab pot apparatus. QBFP north Queensland district manager Glenn Shiels said the operation, which finished in January 2018, targeted Ingham, Townsville, Airlie Beach and Mackay following complaints from recreational and commercial fishers alleging interference with crab pot apparatus. …

THE Australian Fisheries Management Authority has completed a joint public information campaign with the Vietnamese Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Vietnamese Directorate of Fisheries in Vietnam, as part of efforts to combat illegal foreign fishing in our oceans. Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Anne Ruston said over 200 Vietnamese fishers and government officials attended the …

“This illegal fishing activity is very concerning,” he said. “I’m also disturbed the offender discarded the remains on a beach close to a swimming area. The fishing activity appears to have been targeted to attract large sharks and therefore fishers should be mindful of the concerns and safety of other water users. “I’m concerned that fishing for large sharks on …

TWO recreational fishers have been fined more than $2000 after being apprehended fishing in a Solitary Islands Marine Park sanctuary zone in northern NSW recently. NSW Department of Primary Industries fisheries officers responded to a community report and apprehended two men fishing from a boat in a southern sanctuary zone. DPI’s manager for the Solitary Islands Marine Park Nicole Strehling …

QUEENSLAND anglers are gearing up for barra season, which re-opens at midday on Thursday, February 1. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Greg Bowness reminded fishers to check the size and possession limits that apply to the iconic fish when the barra season opens. “Before dropping a line, it’s important that fishers refresh their knowledge of the rules and …

ON January 8, 2018, Western Australia (WA) modified its import requirements for prawns and polychaete worms easing the restrictions on Queensland products. The modified import requirements apply to crustaceans between Mooloolaba in Queensland and the New South Wales (NSW) border. Western Australia-approved businesses able to meet certain capture and processing requirements based in NSW and northern Queensland are now able …

Fisheries Queensland Deputy Director General Scott Spencer said initial investigations indicate a single peacock bass was caught and released below the Dumbleton Weir in December 2017. “The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has engaged environmental research group Catchment Solutions Pty Ltd who recently commenced sampling,” Mr Spencer said. “The aim of the sampling is to confirm whether there are peacock …

Ms Andersen said the Boating and Fishing Guide also includes comprehensive information on boating safety, rules and regulations. “We want to ensure our waterways are as safe as possible for all users, so the guide features detailed information about on board safety equipment and safe navigation,” she said. “Information on marine park zoning has also been included with a map …

A SIX-month closure of waters in an exclusion zone immediately adjacent to three operational NSW prawn farms at Yamba has been declared by the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The exclusion zone aims to mitigate the risk of spreading white spot disease to the prawn farms by excluding recreational fishing activity close to the water intake of the prawn farms. …

FISHERIES Queensland is reminding commercial fishers of the new requirements for hammerhead sharks, which commenced on January 1, 2018. Fisheries Queensland Deputy Director-General Scott Spencer said the new regulations were designed to strengthen the management controls around hammerhead sharks and avoid the species being listed as endangered. “New logbooks and instructions for reporting shark catch in Queensland had been sent …