The Queensland East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Fishery

Update: New recreational and commercial fishing rules are being introduced.

• Recreational
• Commercial

The fishery

Stretching from Cape York to the Queensland-New South Wales border, the Queensland East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Fishery is the state's largest and most diverse fishery. Its coastal and estuarine waters are home to the widest range of fished species in Queensland.

The Queensland East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Fishery has a large number of users including more than 750 000 recreational fishers, who target a wide range of fin fish species in coastal and estuarine waters, and approximately 500 commercial operators.

The major species taken include barramundi, mullet, bream, whiting, flathead and some lesser mackerels such as spotted and grey mackerel.

Proposed changes to fishing rules 

There are a number of changes proposed to future management of the fishery. These include changes to:

• size and bag limits
• management of sharks
• Dugong Protection Areas
• recreational and commercial netting
• closures

Consultation - Have your say 

The East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Fishery review has now closed. DPI&F worked closely with recreational and commercial fishers, conservation groups, the community and other government agencies to develop the proposal for the future management of the fishery. Input for the review was obtained over three stages; public meetings in late 2006, a questionnaire in early 2007 and formal consultations in late 2007-early 2008.

Responses to the formal consultation closed at 5pm on 17 March 2008. All submissions will be taken into account in the final recommendations for government consideration.

Other related information

• Background information on the commercial net fishery
• Have Your Say: Summary of proposed changes (PDF 1064kB) 
• Have Your Say: Regulatory Impact Statement and draft Public Benefit Test (PDF 746kB) 
• A summary of the issues raised at each of the public meetings
• Maps of fisheries closures
• Development of size and bag limits (Excel 187kB)
• Annual status report
• Commercial net fishery licensing
• Fisheries Resource Allocation Policy
• Fisheries information on CHRIS
• Research project - the effects of net fishing
• Record of inshore fin fish stakeholder meetings

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Last updated 24 October 2008