Technical Information Sheet # 24

Published 2002

This page contains background and history of the Representative Areas Program.

• View current Zoning information.

Recreational Fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

The following information outlines the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) approach to managing recreational fishing, as proposed in the Draft Zoning Plan for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park).

Recreational fishing activities are recognised by the GBRMPA for their social, cultural and economic importance to the community. 

No-take areas (e.g. Green Zones) can protect important fish breeding and nursery areas such as seagrass beds, mangrove communities, deepwater shoals and reefs. Scientific research in the Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere shows the benefits for many species when eggs, larvae and young fish develop unhindered in protected areas. As the size of fish increase within no-take areas, bigger fish produce more offspring. Adult fish, and their offspring, are not confined to the no-take areas and can move into adjoining areas, effectively creating a ‘spill-over’ effect that helps replenish fish stocks in areas where fishing is allowed. The effect of no-take areas on increasing fish stocks has been likened to a retirement savings plan, with the accumulated interest on natural capital paying valuable and sustainable dividends and hence future benefits in the long term.

The GBRMPA received over 10,000 submissions from individuals and organisations during the first round of public consultation for the Representative Areas Program (RAP).  Recreational fishing was identified as a key theme in these submissions.  Recreational fishing issues, identified through the submission process, have been addressed in the Draft Zoning Plan.

Proposed management framework for recreational fishing activities

The GBRMPA is proposing to update and standardise the use and entry provisions in the Draft Zoning Plan and amend some definitions for recreational fishing activities. Recreational fishers will benefit from the proposed changes through:

1. Greater consistency with Queensland (QLD) fisheries legislation;
2. Greater protection for fish species of conservation concern;
3. Equitable access to Conservation Park (Yellow) Zones for limited extractive activities;
4. Greater protection of natural resource and amenity values;
5. Maintenance of fisheries resources for current and future generations; and
6. Less difficulty in enforcement of fishing provisions.

Queensland fisheries legislation will continue to apply to all recreational fishing activities conducted in the GBRMP. 

Recreational fishing activities allowed without a permit in the Draft Zoning Plan

Line Fishing and Trolling

In regard to line fishing and trolling, the Draft Zoning Plan will largely maintain current management arrangements, that is:

• Allow line fishing in General Use (Light Blue) and Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zones;
• Allow limited line fishing in Conservation Park (Yellow) Zones (1 hand-held rod/line per person and 1 hook/lure per line);
• Allow trolling in General Use (Light Blue), Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zones and limit trolling to one (1) line per person in Conservation Park (Yellow) Zones; and
• Allow trolling only for pelagic species in Buffer (Olive Green) Zones.

Limited Spearfishing

In regard to spearfishing the Draft Zoning Plan will:

• Continue to allow recreational spearfishing (limited spearfishing) in the General Use (Light Blue) and Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zones; and
• Revise the provisions to allow limited spearfishing in the Conservation Park (Yellow) Zone.

Further restrictions on limited spearfishing will be proposed in the planned amendments to the GBRMP Regulations, including prohibiting the possession of a loaded speargun, other than in the water; or within 50 metres of another person in the water who is not a member of the spearfisher’s own group; or within 50 metres of a mooring or jetty; or within 500 metres of a resort, pontoon or aquaculture facility.

Bait Netting

In regard to bait netting, the Draft Zoning Plan will:

• Continue to allow bait netting in General Use (Light Blue), Habitat Protection (Dark Blue), and Conservation Park (Yellow) Zones; and
• Revise the provisions of the Buffer (Olive Green) Zone to remove the provision for bait netting, as this activity is no longer compatible with the purpose of the Buffer Zone under the Draft Zoning Plan.

Limited collecting

In regard to limited collecting the Draft Zoning Plan will:

• Continue to allow for the recreational collecting of shells (generally not more than 5 animals of a species are able to be taken), and the collection of bait and oysters for immediate consumption (limited collecting), in General Use (Light Blue) and Habitat Protection (Dark Blue) Zones (Different limits may apply to some species to ensure consistency with Queensland Fisheries legislation); and
• Revise the provisions of the Conservation Park (Yellow) Zone to allow for limited collecting (previously only the collecting of bait and oysters for immediate consumption were allowed in the Zone).

Definitions

The following definitions, as referred to above, apply in the Draft Zoning Plan:

* No change is intended to the size or dimensions of bait nets or cast nets currently able to be used by recreational fishers in accordance with Queensland fisheries legislation.

Protected Species

A list of protected fish currently is included in Schedule 5 of the GBRMP Regulations.   The GBRMPA is proposing to amend this list to protect:

• All sizes of potato cod, hump-headed Maori wrasse and barramundi cod, consistent with zero bag limits proposed in Queensland fisheries legislation; and
• All other fish species of the genus Epinephelus (cods and groupers) greater than 100cm in length (measured in accordance with Queensland fisheries legislation), consistent with maximum size limits proposed in Queensland fisheries legislation.
• Rare or threatened species including dugong, turtles and several species of seabirds and invertebrates.