New rules for Spanish mackerel start 1 July To help rebuild stocks of east coast Spanish mackerel, new rules will be in place from 1 July 2023: The recreational possession limit will change to one fish per person, or two fish per boat with two or more recreational fishers on board (the boat limit will not apply to licensed charter fishing trips).
The extended charter trip limit will be removed (currently allows recreational fishers to take twice the in-possession limit for charter trips longer than 48 hours). The total allowable commercial catch will be adjusted from 578 tonnes to 165 tonnes for the 2023 fishing season. Search ‘Spanish mackerel management changes’ at daf.qld.gov.au/fisheries for more information.
World Oceans Day: Compliant pots keep our oceans healthy
If your favourite past-time is spending the day out on the water, then you’ll know oceans play a major role in everyday life. That’s why it’s up to each one of us to conserve its ecosystem and biodiversity for future generations to enjoy. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers work with partner agencies and conduct regular operations to rid Queensland waterways of abandoned and non-compliant crabbing apparatus. Crab pots that are used incorrectly or abandoned can become lost and may continue to ‘ghost fish’, trapping wildlife. Whether it’s checking your equipment regularly or making sure you’re following the Queensland regulations for your catch, there’s something we all can do to look after the place we spend in our favourite place – the ocean.
You can avoid losing crab pots and risk harming the environment by following these tips: • Check crab pots regularly and remove them from the water when they are not being used. • Ensure crab pots are heavy enough with enough rope attached to the float so they are not lost or pulled under water in strong tidal currents. • Ensure crab pots are set below the low tide mark and in a sufficient depth of water at all stages of the tide. You can also support our oceans by reporting suspected unmarked, lost or abandoned crabbing apparatus to the Fishwatch Hotline on 1800 017 116. For detailed information on Queensland fishing rules and regulations, download the Qld Fishing 2.0 app from Apple and Google app stores.
Download the free ‘Qld Fishing 2.0’ app from the App Store or Google Play DAF1980 05/23
