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Licences and permits for commercial fishing in Queensland

You have to be authorised to operate any kind of commercial fishing business in Queensland - to fish for profit or conduct fishing tours, for instance.

There are many different types of commercial fishing "authorities" (as the authorisations are called in the legislation), and most operators need more than one (see How to get started in commercial fishing and How to Inspect the Fisheries Register of Authorities and Fisheries Developmental Approvals ). The various types are discussed below.

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Queensland's Fisheries Licensing and Fees System

Queensland introduced a new licensing and fees system on 1 July 2006. Significant changes were made following an extensive review and consultation process. The licensing system has been steamlined, fishery access rights are more secure, and a limited compensation scheme is being provided. In addtion, the new licensing and fees model also provides a fairer system of fees based on the value of fishery access rights.

For a comprehensive overview of the new arrangements, please see A guide to Queensland's new fisheries licensing and fees system (PDF download PDF 731 kB). This guide provides information that is particularly important for commercial fishers, however some of the information is also relevant to seafood buyers and commercial charter operators. Information found on this website is consistent with the arrangements described in this guide.

Commercial Fisher Licence

This licence authorises the holder to be in charge of a commercial fishing operation. It is not transferable (cannot be bought or sold). If you want to run a commercial fishing operation, you must have this licence. However, to obtain this licence, you need certain qualifications. For further information, see: 

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Boat Licences

Commercial Fishing Boat Licence

The Commercial Fishing Boat Licence authorises the holder to use the boat identified on the licence to fish commercially within the fishery/ies that are endorsed by fishery symbols on the licence. Certain fisheries (those marked "***" on Commercial fishery symbols in Queensland) limit the number of tender boats which can operate with the boat listed on the licence

Since a policy of limited entry was introduced in 1984, virtually no new boat licences are being issued. But boat licences are transferable, so you can enter the fishing industry by purchasing an existing licence from someone else. For further information, see:

Carrier Boat Licence

This licence authorises a boat to transport fish, except for live reef fish, taken by other commercial fishing boats. You can apply to Fisheries for a Carrier Boat Licence, or you can purchase an existing licence from someone else. For further information, see:

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Commercial Harvest Fishery Licence

A Commercial Harvest Fishery Licence authorises the holder to operate in the "hand-harvest" or "collection" fisheries that are authorised by fishery symbols on the licence. See the table of  Commercial Harvest fishery symbols.

No new Commercial Harvest Fishery Licences are being issued, but existing authorities are transferable, which means you can purchase an existing licence from someone else and apply to Fisheries to transfer it. For further information, see:

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Fishery Symbols to operate in specific fisheries

Commercial Fishing Boat Licences and Commercial Harvest Fishery Licences are marked with fishery symbols which "endorse" the licence holder and the boat identified on the licence to operate in that fishery. These endorsements are shown on the licences as symbols consisting of letters or letter-and-number combinations (for example, SM stands for the Spanish Mackerel Fishery). For a full list of fishery symbols, see Commercial fishery symbols in Queensland.

All of these fishery symbols are transferable with the licence, except for the adult eel fishery (E).

In addition, fishery symbols (other than "E") can be moved between existing Commercial Fishing Boat Licences and Commercial Harvest Fishery Licences. Some restrictions apply regarding which fishery symbols can appear on what type of licence. For further information, see:

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Quota and Effort Units

The government has placed controls on certain fisheries in the form of:

  • Quotas - which apply to the Spanish Mackerel, Coral Reef, Spanner Crab, Bêche-de-Mer, and Trochus fisheries. These quotas are volume-based, that is, they are the maximum catch for each fisher (set annually).
  • Effort units - these are the number of "fishing days" allocated per year to each East Coast Trawl fisher.

Quota and effort units are transferable - they can be traded between the holders of licences with the appropriate fishery symbols. Transfers of quota or effort units can be either temporary or permanent. For further information, see:

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Buyer Licence

This licence allows the holder to buy fish directly from a licensed commercial fisher (or the holder of another authority that allows the sale of fisheries) and to sell. that fish. You can apply to Fisheries for a new licence of this type, or purchase an existing licence from someone else and apply to Fisheries to transfer it. For further information, see:

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Torres Strait Licences

The Torres Strait Fisheries are managed under the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 . All commercial fishing operations within the Torres Strait Protected Zone are managed by the Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA), and licences for these fisheries are issued on its behalf by Fisheries. These licences include the Torres Strait Master Fisherman's Licence, the Torres Strait Fishing Boat Licence, multiple classes of Torres Strait Processor/Carrier Boat Licences, and the Torres Strait Traditional Inhabitant Fishing Boat Licence. For further information about how to obtain Torres Strait licences, see:

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Charter Fishing Licences

A Charter Fishing Licence allows the holder to operate charter fishing tours in Queensland offshore waters. You can either apply for a new licence, or an existing licence from someone else and apply to Fisheries to transfer it. For further information, see:

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Fisheries Permits

You will need a permit if you want to undertake fisheries research, investigate the development of a new fishery, stock Queensland waters, or anything else which involves an activity which is normally contrary to fisheries legislation. Most permits are "one-offs", and are neither renewable nor transferable.

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Changing details recorded on a fishing authority

Subject to approval, almost any type of fishing authority (licence or permit) may be amended to change the recorded details. A fishing authority might be amended by adding or removing:

  • one or more fishery symbols,
  • locations of operation,
  • apparatus used in the operation including boats (note: a different application form is used to change the boat recorded on a Commercial Fishing Boat Licence), or
  • any other conditions

You must apply to Fisheries to change the details recorded on a fishing authority. For further information, see:

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Surrendering a fishing authority

Any type of fishing authority (licence or permit) may be surrendered while it is still current. Once surrendered, the activities which were authorised must cease. To surrender a fishing authority, you must return a completed Surrender Application form and the original authority to Fisheries. For further information, see:

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Where do you go for more information?

Contact the DPI&F on telephone 13 25 23. Our call centre staff will direct your inquiry to the appropriate licensing officer.

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Last updated 30 January 2007