Spearfishing

If you or your clients visit the Great Barrier Reef with a spear gun, it's important that you observe the management arrangements that have been put in place to ensure the Reef's fisheries remain ecologically sustainable.

You can also help conserve this precious resource by adopting the following responsible reef practices. Please only take what you absolutely need, and to leave fish to breed and for future generations to catch.

Responsible Reef Practices

• Advise your clients about all fishing regulations and best practices.
• Provide interpretation about sustainable fish practices, species identification, and protected fish species (such as maori wrasse, and barramundi cod).
• Be careful of other Reef users who may be in the water near you.

Instruct your clients to

• Spear only what they need - not necessarily to the bag limit.
• Not pursue a fish if they are unsure of its identity or size.
• Do not take big fish merely as trophies because these are important breeding stock.
• Always track down injured fish, do not let them swim off injured.

Reporting

• Please report suspected illegal fishing.

Marine Parks Legal Requirements

• You must abide by the spearfishing requirements in the Zoning Plan
• Spearfishing is allowed in the General Use Zone (light blue), Habitat Protection Zone (dark blue) and Conservation Park Zone (yellow) but you must have a Marine Parks permit to spearfish in Public Appreciation Special Management Areas of the Conservation Park Zone.
• Spearfishing is not allowed in the Buffer Zone (olive green), Scientific Research Zone (orange), Marine National Park Zone (green) or Preservation Zone (pink).
• You must not spearfish
• For sale or trade
• With underwater breathing apparatus (other than snorkel)
• With a power-head
• With a firearm or light.
• You must not 'take' protected fish species in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park unless you have a Marine Parks permit.
  Note: 'Take' includes removing, gathering, killing or interfering with, or attempting to take. There may be special arrangements for Traditional Owners.