Vessel tracking
Vessel tracking review
Fisheries Queensland is undertaking a review of the implementation and administration of vessel tracking in Queensland's commercial fisheries.
Follow the progress of the review or ask questions via the vessel tracking engagement hub.
For all vessel tracking requirements, please refer to fisheries legislation – Fisheries Act 1994, Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 and Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019 – and Business Queensland.
Vessel tracking helps to ensure the sustainability of Queensland’s fisheries. Monitoring commercial fishing activity allows more informed and responsive management of our fisheries resources upon which many commercial operators and regional communities depend.
Vessel tracking units
Authority holders have until 30 June 2024 to apply for a rebate through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority to help pay for the purchase and installation costs associated with implementing vessel tracking.
Commercial fishers that are required to have vessel tracking on their boats must use a Fisheries Queensland approved unit and comply with the installation and maintenance standard when configuring, installing and maintaining vessel tracking equipment.
Find out more about the safety requirements for vessel tracking units and installation, and work health and safety responsibilities.
Commercial fishery requirements
Commercial fishers with a licence to operate in the following fisheries must have an approved and registered vessel tracking unit on their boats:
| Fishery symbol | Fishery |
|---|---|
| A1, A2 | Aquarium fish fishery |
| B1 | Sea cucumber (beche-de-mer) fishery |
| C1 | Crab fishery (other than spanner crab) |
| C2, C3 | Crab fishery (spanner crab) |
| D | Coral fishery |
| J1 | Trochus (east coast) |
| K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K7, K8 | Net fishery (ocean beach) |
| L1, L2, L3, L4, L8 | Line fishery |
| M1 | Moreton Bay trawl fishery |
| M2 | Moreton Bay trawl fishery |
| N1, N2, N3, N4, N10, N11, N12, N13 | Net fishery |
| R | Crayfish and rock lobster fishery |
| T1, T2 | Trawl fishery |
| T4 | Trawl fishery (fin fish) |
| T5, T6, T7, T8, T9 | Trawl fishery (river and inshore) |
Vessel tracking is not required in the following commercial fisheries:
| Fishery symbol | Requirement |
|---|---|
| P | Pearl fishery |
| E | Eel fishery (adults) |
| F | Shell fishery |
| G | Shell grit fishery |
| H | Star sand fishery |
| JE | Juvenile eel fishery |
| O | Oyster fishery |
| W1 | Worm fishery (beachworm) |
| W2 | Worm fishery (bloodworm) |
| Y | Yabby fishery |
More information
- Results of vessel tracking unit trial
- Draft vessel tracking policy and guideline and consultation report
- PricewaterhouseCoopers qualified assurance report on the department’s statement on control measures put in place for the vessel tracking system – to request a copy email vesseltracking@daf.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.
For all vessel tracking enquiries, call 13 25 23 or email vesseltracking@daf.qld.gov.au.
