Reef line fishery management
The reef line fishery is a multi-species fishery; however, coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) is the main target species for commercial fishers, and is often caught without high harvest rates of other non-target species. Commercial fishers also harvest red throat emperor and a wide range of coral reef species.
Fishing presents a low risk to the sustainability of coral reef fin fish stocks, due to the existing management framework and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning.
© Queensland Government
Commercial fishers in the reef line fishery operate predominantly within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, targeting high-value coral trout for live export.
Commercial operations range from large primary fishing vessels with a number of smaller tender boats (dories) fishing over a two-week period, to smaller operations undertaking single day trips.
The fishery also includes a large charter and recreational component, with significant interest in coral trout, emperor and tropical snapper species (among others). It’s estimated that harvest by traditional fishers aligns closely with the recreational fishing sector.
Commercial sector
The reef line fishery is considered to be sustainably managed and has a Wildlife Trade Operation approval from the Australian Government (under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
The following fishery symbols define the areas of commercial operation:
- L1 – line fishing south of 24°30´S
- L2 and L3 – line fishing north of 24°30´S in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- L8 – multi-hook deep line fishing in waters greater than 200m.
© Queensland Government
To ensure the sustainability of coral reef fin fish, commercial fishers must comply with a range of rules, including:
- licence requirements (limited entry fishery)
- gear requirements
- a closed season
- no take of certain species
- minimum legal size limits
- tender number and size limits
- vessel size limits
- satellite vessel tracking on all boats.
There are restrictions on the amount that commercial fishers can harvest – each licensed commercial fisher is allocated a number of quota units (or shares), which is a percentage of the total allowable commercial catch for coral trout, red throat emperor and other species.
For information on commercial fishing rules, refer to the Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019.
Recreational and charter sectors
Recreational fishers access the fishery via private recreational vessels or as paying customers on offshore charter operations (both single and multi-day charters).
Recreational fishers and charter operators must comply with:
- minimum legal size limits
- no take of certain species
- gear requirements
- a closed season.
Traditional fishing sector
The traditional fishing rights of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders are protected under native title legislation and relate to harvest for domestic, communal and non-commercial purposes.
Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders desire more economic opportunities through fishing, particularly in their own sea country. Up to 5 tonnes will be set aside to provide access through an Indigenous fishing permit (see section 54 of the Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019) to provide opportunities for communities to take part in fishing-related business.
Harvest strategy
A harvest strategy specifies pre-determined management actions necessary to achieve the ecological, economic and social objectives of a fishery. It provides clarity about the overall fishery objectives, performance indicators, triggers for management actions, and appropriate management responses.
The Reef line fishery harvest strategy: 2020–2025 outlines how the total allowable commercial catch and recreational catch level will be adjusted to ensure the total harvest of key species maximises ecological, economic and social outcomes for the fishery.
Decision rules in the harvest strategy are used to work out the amount of harvest that the target species can sustain. Secondary and byproduct species are also monitored to ensure that harvest of these species does not increase to levels that might represent a risk to their stocks.
The stock levels of species in the fishery are estimated using:
- commercial logbook data
- age and length data
- statewide recreational fishing surveys
- boat ramp surveys
- charter fishing logbook data
- underwater visual survey data
- stock assessments.
Latest management advice
The harvest strategy will be used to assess the reef line fishery and set the total coral trout allowable catch for each season. Management advice for the fishery will be updated annually:
the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons. Management advice for the fishery will be updated annually.
Stakeholder engagement
The reef line working group is made up of representatives from research, conservation and industry sectors, and provides operational advice on the management of the fishery.