2019-07-18 OM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 2 - Fisheries Regulation Discussion Paper

36. Exclude certain ‘bait’ species from the general in-possession limit.
    It is proposed that common bait species are excluded from the proposed general in-possession
    limit. There would be no limit on herring, hardyhead, pilchards, anchovies, silver biddies, saltwater
    yabbies, soldier crabs and non-regulated worms (e.g. mangrove worms).
37. Introduce a recreational boat limit for high-value black-market species.
    To provide additional protection for high-value black-market species, it is proposed that a
    recreational boat limit of two times the individual in-possession limit be introduced for mud crab,
    tropical rock lobster, shark, barramundi, Spanish mackerel, sea cucumber, prawns, snapper and
    black jewfish (note: tropical rock lobster already has a boat limit and this existing requirement
    would be moved into a single requirement). An exemption for charter operators (licensed and
    registered) would be provided for.
   Note: The recreational boat limit would not apply to commercial fishers operating under the A1
   fishery symbols.
38. Prohibit the use of lightweight recreational potting apparatus.
    To minimise the broader ecological risks from lightweight pots being lost in large tides and strong
    currents (known as ghost pots), it is proposed to prohibit the use of lightweight pots for recreational
    fishing in Queensland. Minimum apparatus standards would be prescribed as follows:
    a. Collapsible round pots would only be permitted with a diameter between 800 mm and
       1200 mm, a steel wire ring of 8 mm or more and a mesh size of 50 mm or more.
    b. Square, rectangle or wire traps must not exceed 1 m in length, height or width and have a
       maximum of four openings.
39. Amend the tropical rock lobster closed waters for recreational fishers.
    It is proposed to permit the recreational take of tropical rock lobster during the northern spawning
    closure if lobster loops are used that allow berried females to be returned safely. The possession
    of live lobster and the use of spear guns would not be permitted.

Proposed changes to recreational freshwater fishing
40. Allow the recreational take of Mary River cod in stocked impoundments.
    It is proposed to expand the list of impoundments that stock Mary River cod for recreational fishing
    to include Wyaralong Dam, Ewen Maddock Dam, Caboolture River Weir, Robina Lakes, Lake
    Kurwongbah, Enoggera Reservoir and Lake Manchester. This would allow recreational take of
    Mary River cod all year round in the stocked impoundments.
41. Amend the regulated waters for Mary River cod.
    In recognition of the ‘endangered’ status of Mary River cod under the federal Environment
    Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, it is proposed to also close the following waters
    to all forms of fishing to protect and allow the species to recover:
       Tinana Creek and its tributaries upstream of Teddington Weir wall
       Obi Obi Creek from where it meets the Mary River upstream to Baroon Pocket Dam wall.
42. Amend and align the seasonal closures for Mary River cod and Murray cod.
    Given their ‘endangered’ status, it is proposed to align the seasonal closures for Murray cod and
    Mary River cod to 1 August to 31 October each year. Recent research has shown that both of
    these species actually commence spawning in August, so this closure would provide good
    protection during the spawning season.


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