Protected species - regulated fish

These regulated fish are totally protected in Queensland and cannot be taken:

Ceratodus or Queensland lungfish
Helmet, trumpet and clam shells
Female mud and blue swimmer crabs
Berried female spanner crabs, Moreton Bay bugs, other berried sea bugs and slipper lobsters
Great white and grey nurse sharks
Mary River cod
No take species

Fish and other aquatic species, and wetland habitats, are a finite resource and require protection or regulation if future generations are to enjoy them.

Some species are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and require more strict regulation or protection. Research determines the extent of protection required.

For some species, only one gender is protected (e.g. female blue swimmer crabs); for others only berried (egg-bearing) females are protected; while other species are totally protected.

Some species are identified as no-take species either for similar resons as above, or because they may carry a risk to people in eating them.

The following species are protected by the Fisheries Act 1994 and Fisheries Regulations 2008.

Queensland lungfish

Ceratodus or Queensland lungfish: regulated by species

Occurring naturally in the Burnett and Mary River systems, and introduced into the upper Brisbane River, Albert River, Coomera River, Stanley River and Enoggera Reservoir, the lungfish is not considered threatened, but is of great scientific and cultural significance. Consequently, the Queensland lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) is a totally protected species: the catching and possession of these fish is totally prohibited.

Permits for scientific research or for specific purposes may be issued.

For further information visit Fish Note - Queensland lungfish

Helmet, trumpet and clam shells: regulated by species

All of these large and vulnerable shells are totally protected.

Initially the trumpet or triton shell was protected as the only known natural predator of the crown-of-thorns starfish.

The helmet shell was later also thought to eat crown-of-thorns. Further research showed this not to be the case, but the protection has remained.

Clams in the family Tridacnidae are protected due to their vulnerability, especially to collection as a food for the South-East Asian market. Some species of giant clams are now cultured for this market, and smaller species are cultured for the aquarium trade.

Female mud crabs and blue swimmer crabs: regulated by gender

The mud crab (Scylla serrata) and blue swimmer (Portunus pelagicus) fisheries are of major commercial and recreational importance. Protecting the females allows them to breed and replenish the populations.

Since sexually mature males are able to mate with many more than one female during the breeding season, they are able to be harvested. However, males have a minimum legal size limit of 15 cm across the carapace to allow them to reach sexual maturity and contribute at least once to the breeding population.

For further information visit:
Fish Note - Mud crab (mangrove crab)
Fish Note - Blue swimmer crab (sand crab)

Berried female spanner crabs, Moreton Bay bugs, other berried sea bugs, slipper lobsters and crayfish: regulated by reproductive capacity

Female crabs and bugs carry their eggs as a mass beneath their tail flaps, protecting them until they hatch. For this reason, berried (egg-bearing) female spanner crabs, sea bugs and slipper lobsters are protected to allow fertilised eggs to reach hatching stage. Egg-bearing and tar-spot tropical spiny rock lobster are also protected.

For futher information visit:
Fish Note - Spanner crab (frog crab)
Fish Note - Moreton Bay bug (Bay lobster)

Grey nurse shark with diver

Great white and grey nurse sharks: totally protected

In line with all other Australian States and with world-wide recognition of their vulnerability, the grey nurse and great white sharks are totally protected in Queensland.

For further information visit Protecting the grey nurse shark; an information paper

Mary River cod: regulated by species

Once distributed extensively throughout south-east Queensland, the Mary River cod is now found naturally only in parts of the Mary River system.

It is now totally protected.

In some dams and weirs that have been stocked with Mary River cod from licensed fish hatcheries, a person may take or possess one cod.

For futher information visit: Fish Note - Mary River cod

Other regulated species

The taking and possessing of the following species is prohibited and must be immediately and carefully returned to the water if accidentally caught.

Barramundi cod (tidal)	Bloomfield River cod (freshwater)	Chinaman fish juvenile (tidal)	Chinaman fish adult (tidal)
Hump-headed Maori wrasse (tidal)	Lungfish (freshwater)	Paddletail (tidal)	Potato cod (tidal)
Queensland groper (tidal)	Red bass (tidal)	River blackfish (freshwater)	Spiny crayfish (freshwater)