New Fishing Regulations From December 13

New recreational and commercial fishing rules will come into force in Queensland from December 13 for coral reef fish as well as a range of other fish species.

The new rules are the result of extensive consultation between the Department of Primary Industries Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS), industry groups, stakeholders and the community.

QFS general manager Jim Gillespie said the regulations marked an important step forward in sustaining the State’s fisheries resources.

“During the past few years major initiatives have been introduced to a number of fisheries and Queensland can now claim some of the most progressive fisheries reforms in Australia,” he said.

Mr Gillespie said the long-term benefit of sustainable fisheries resources was critical for the Queensland community.

“The restructure of the Coral Reef Fin Fish and the East Coast Spanish Mackerel Fisheries includes a range of new size limits, take and possession limits and other regulations which will help to protect Queensland’s iconic fish species,” he said.

Major changes to recreational fishing regulations which come into effect from December 13 include:

Seven fish including humphead Maori wrasse, barramundi cod, potato cod, Queensland groper, red bass, Chinaman fish, and paddletail are now no take species.

A combined total take and possession limit of 20 coral reef fish is now in place. However, within this combined limit anglers must comply with individual take and possession limits for various fish species.

Minimum and in some cases maximum size limits have been introduced for most coral reef species.

Updated restrictions on fishing gear and on filleting fish at sea accompany the new size limits. All recreational and commercial fishers without a reef fish catch quota must mark their fish as not for sale by removing a section of the pectoral fin.

The take and possession limit for Spanish mackerel has dropped from 10 to three.

For more information about the new fishing regulations, contact the local Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol office or visit the DPI Fishweb site at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: Jim Gillespie (07) 3225 1839
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

New Size And Take And Possession Limits For Coral Reef Fish

New size and take and possession limits will apply to coral reef fish for recreational anglers and commercial operators from December 13.

The new rules follow extensive consultation between the Department of Primary Industries Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS), industry groups, stakeholders and the community.

QFS reef line manager Mark Elmer said the new size and take and possession limits were aimed at sustaining coral reef stocks which had come under increasing fishing pressure in recent years.

Mr Elmer said the new size limits applied to all while the new take and possession limits applied to recreational anglers and those commercial operators who had not been allocated an RQ fishery symbol which allowed them to commercially fish for coral reef species.

"The new regulations will protect and conserve these iconic fish species," he said.

Below is a summary of the new size and take and possession limits for coral reef fish.

From December 13, 2003

All coral reef fish will have a minimum size limit of 25cm unless otherwise specified.
A combined take and possession limit of 20 will also apply to coral reef fish however, within this combined limit, anglers must comply with individual take and possession limits for various fish species.

No take species

The following species are not to be taken:

Maori wrasse
Barramundi cod
Potato cod
Queensland groper
Red bass
Chinaman fish
Paddletail

Size limits
All coral reef fish species have a minimum size limit of 25cm unless otherwise specified below:

Tuskfish 30cm

Jobfishes, red throat emperor, long nose emperor 38cm
Nannygai (small and large mouth) 40cm
Spangled emperor 45cm
Red emperor 55cm
Fusilier No limit

All cods, gropers and coral trout 38cm

Exceptions to cods, gropers and coral trout

Greasy rockcod 38cm to 100cm

Flowery cod 50cm to 100cm

Camouflage rockcod 50cm to 100cm

Maori cod 45cm

Blue spot trout 50cm to 80cm

Note: Jobfish include crimson jobfish (rosy jobfish), flame snapper, goldband snapper, green jobfish, lavender jobfish, ruby snapper and small- toothed jobfish.

Take and possession limits
All coral reef fish species have possession limits of 5 unless otherwise specified below:

Combined limits:

Cods and gropers 5 in total of all species

Tuskfish 6 in total of all species

Coral trout 7 in total of all species

Nannygai 9 in total of all species
Species specific limits:

Crimson jobfish (Rosy jobfish), red throat emperor 8 per species

Hussar 10 per species

Fusilier No limit

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: Mark Elmer (07) 3225 1844
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757