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

    d. Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery and Eel Fishery—1
    e. All other harvest fisheries (juvenile eel, oyster, pearl, shell etc.)—2
    f.   Shell Grit Fishery and Star Sand Fishery—only the licence holder.
70. Clarify the sea cucumber regulated waters.
    The take of sea cucumber is currently prohibited for recreational fishers in some Queensland
    waters. The current description of the regulated waters is unclear. The intention of the closure is to
    encompass two bodies of water—firstly along the east coast, south of Bowen, and secondly waters
    west of the tip of Queensland. It is proposed that the two locations be listed independently of each
    other to avoid confusion and confirm that the intended no-take waters for recreational sea
    cucumber are maintained.
71. Introduce a spawning closure for certain Coral species.
   To take the pressure of commercial harvesting of Scolymia spp which is a high value species that
   is limited in its distribution, it is proposed to introduce a spawning closure from 1 October to 31
   December annually which would apply to all commercial D fishery symbol holders. This would
   prohibit the take of this species during this period. All other species of coral would still be open to
   harvesting.
72. Clarify the T4 Stout Whiting fishery area.
    It is proposed to amend the T4 Stout Whiting Fishery area definition by referring to points of
    latitude and longitude rather than depth contours. This would provide greater clarity around the
    existing defined fishery area.
73. Clarify the T9 Beam Trawl Fishery area Northern Regional Regulated Water closure.
    The closure applies from 15 December to 1 March. The original intent was that T9 symbol beam
    trawlers would be permitted to operate in Llewelyn Bay and Sinclair Bay but not Repulse Bay or
    Cleveland Bay during the closure, as rivers and creeks remain open to the T9 fishery during the
    closure. The current drafting does not adequately reflect this intent, and it is proposed to amend it
    to allow T9 fishers to access Llewelyn Bay and Sinclair Bay during the closure.
74. Clarify weighting requirements for the bigeye bycatch reduction device.
    Anecdotal evidence suggests some fishers are not weighting their bigeye bycatch reduction
    devices with sufficient weight to allow the devices to function effectively. It is proposed that
    minimum weighting requirements be established to clarify the minimum requirements for the use of
    bigeye bycatch reduction devices.
75. Amend vessel tracking requirements to apply to all commercial fishing vessels from
    1 January 2020.
    This applies the existing requirement to all remaining commercial vessels (i.e. Moreton Bay Trawl
    Fishery, Beam Trawl and Commercial Harvest Fisheries).
76. Amend vessel tracking requirements to apply to all charter fishing vessels from 1 July 2020.
    It is proposed to amend the Fisheries Regulation to require ‘unrestricted’ charter vessels to be
    fitted with vessel tracking equipment from 1 July 2020. No other changes are proposed.




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