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

96. Allow fishing in multiple crab fisheries at the same time.
    Currently, commercial fishers can only operate in one fishery during a single trip. With the proposal
    to split the Mud and Blue Swimmer Crab Fishery and transition to a quota management system, it
    is proposed that fishers would be allowed to operate in mud crab, blue swimmer crab and spanner
    crab fisheries during a single trip.
97. Allow fishing in the Coral Fishery and Marine Aquarium Fish Fishery at the same time.
    Currently, commercial fishers can only operate in one fishery during a single trip. It is proposed to
    clarify the Fisheries Regulation to allow fishers to operate in both these fisheries during a single
    trip.
98. Amend the T7 Beam Trawl Fishery area.
    Fisheries Queensland, in partnership with the commercial fishing industry, established a
    management trial to temporarily expand the area of the T7 fishery to provide access to an area
    north of the Burnett River. No issues have been raised as part of the trial, so it is proposed to
    include the area of the trial and extend the existing area of the T7 fishery.
99. Amend the T5 Beam Trawl Fishery area.
    It is proposed that the defined area of the T5 fishery be expanded to include the river channel area
    out to the entrance beacons. This expansion is intended to offset impacts on the fishery associated
    with the expansion of the cruise terminal.
100. Allow trawlers to transit through scallop ranching areas under certain conditions.
   It is proposed that trawlers (T1, T2) be allowed to transition through the existing scallop ranching
   areas, provided they maintain a minimum speed of 5 knots and all fishing apparatus remains
   stowed and secured while transiting these areas. Fifteen-minute vessel tracking polling in these
   areas would help ensure that fishing is not occurring while vessels transit these areas.
101. Amend the existing Sea Cucumber Fishery area.
   Ashmore and Boot Reefs have historically been accessed by the commercial Sea Cucumber
   Fishery through a General Fisheries Permit; however, these areas have never been part of the
   defined area of the fishery. To remove the need for industry to apply for permits to access these
   areas, it is proposed that Ashmore and Boot Reefs be included in the defined area of the Sea
   Cucumber Fishery.
102. Amend the use of nets that are neither fixed nor hauled in offshore waters of Keppel Bay.
   Currently, the use of nets that are neither fixed nor hauled in offshore waters of Keppel Bay is
   permitted. However, these nets are limited to a maximum length of 200 m. It is proposed that the
   200 m length restriction be removed, with the default net length restriction for the N1 fishery
   (600 m) to apply. When the Rockhampton Net Free Zone was established, it covered almost all of
   the area where the restriction applied. The remaining area is very small and its non-regular shape
   makes compliance and enforcement difficult. The species targeted in the area would be subject to
   individual transferable quota (grey mackerel) or a total allowable commercial catch (shark).




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