Fishing Rules

THE biggest reform in NSW commercial fishing in two decades kicked off recently, with the introduction of new quota and management arrangements. ​NSW Primary Industries deputy director general Dr Geoff Allan said it was ‘day one’ of what will be a new and economically viable commercial fishing industry. “The NSW Government has delivered what was promised last year – less …

AUSTRALIA and Vietnam will commence an in-country public information campaign to educate Vietnamese fishers about the consequences of illegally fishing in Australian waters and the Pacific in an effort to combat illegal fishing. The campaign is being run by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in partnership with the Vietnamese Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development. Assistant Minister for Agriculture and …

QUEENSLAND’S annual spanner crab closed season for recreational and commercial fishers commences at midnight on November 20 and runs until midnight, December 20. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district officer Russell Overton said the annual closure protected spanner crabs during breeding season. “The closed season allows the crabs to spawn, replenishing crab stocks to ensure a sustainable fishery for future …

CORAL reef fin fish will be off-limits from Wednesday, November 15 in the second of two annual closures that protect these fish during spawning season. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Robert Russell said the closure would start immediately after midnight at the beginning of November 15 and end immediately before midnight at the end of November 19. “October …

A COMPANY was recently fined $40,000 at the Hervey Bay Magistrates’ Court for causing damage to a substantial area of marine plants. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Greg Bowness said Fisheries Queensland takes the destruction of marine plants seriously as they play an important role in sustaining fish habitats. “The company excavated about 8407sq m of soil from …

ALL Queensland fisheries patrol officers will be required to wear cameras to record interactions with the public, Acting Fisheries Minister Dr Anthony Lynham announced recently. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers based at Pinkenba are the first to wear the body cameras, which will be a standard part of uniforms across the state by February 2018. “The roll-out of body …

THE annual barramundi closed season along Queensland’s east coast starts from midday on November 1, 2017, effective through to midday on February 1, 2018. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Robert Russell said the closed season applies to all commercial and recreational fishers. “Fisheries officers will be stepping up surveillance during the barramundi closed season to protect this valued …

CORAL reef fin fish will be off-limits from Tuesday, October 17 for the first of two annual closures to protect these fish during spawning season. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Robert Russell said the two five-day closures coincided with the new moon when key coral reef fish species aggregate to spawn. “October and November have been found to …

FISHERS are being reminded that barramundi will be off limits in the Gulf of Carpentaria with a closed season from midday 7 October 2017 until midday 1 February 2018. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) acting district officer Bill Nason said the closure was in place to protect barramundi stock during their vulnerable spawning season. “Barramundi typically aggregate in one area …

TWO commercial fishers were found guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates’ Court for netting offences in the Port of Gladstone Rodds Bay Dugong Protection Area and were collectively fined close to $10,000. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol investigator for Central Queensland Deryk Smith said in April 2016, QBFP officers intercepted the fishers as they were pulling up their commercial fishing boat …