Management changes for Gastropod and bivalve molluscs in Moreton Bay

Gastropods and bivalve mollusc species are highly susceptible to localised depletion because of their sedentary nature and the ease of access to fishing grounds adjacent to urban centres. Fishing pressure directed at gastropods and bivalve molluscs in Moreton Bay has increased significantly in recent years resulting in concern about the sustainability of key species (mud ark, mud whelks and cockles).

On 26 April 2019, the Queensland Government implemented new management arrangements to protect gastropod and bivalve molluscs in Moreton Bay, including:

• prohibiting the take of gastropods and bivalve mollusc, excluding pipis, in Moreton Bay;
• clarifying the definition of mollusc to the following to assist compliance activities:
  • gastropod means any invertebrate species belonging to the taxonomic class Gastropoda
  • bivalve mollusc means any invertebrate species belonging to the taxonomic class Bivalvia
  • pipi means any invertebrate species belonging to the taxonomic family Donacidae
• clarifying that shell collecting (i.e. empty shells, no live organisms) is not a regulated activity.

The closure applies to the waters of Moreton Bay following the boundary coordinates of the northern, eastern and southern boundaries of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and all tidal waters of rivers flowing into this region and encompass the existing foreshore closures at Wynnum, Nudgee Beach, Bramble Bay and Deception Bay.

There are no changes to the harvesting of gastropods and bivalve mollusc outside the Moreton Bay area.

Consultation on proposed management changes was undertaken for four weeks in December 2018 with almost 400 responses. Feedback from this consultation period has been summarised in Results of consultation: proposed management changes for gastropod and bivalve molluscs in Moreton Bay (PDF, 718.3KB).