Published Wednesday, 08 February, 2017 at 02:30 PM

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Economic Development
The Honourable Bill Byrne

Law abiding fishers earn praise

Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne has praised Queensland’s law-abiding recreational and commercial fishers for the efforts they take to comply with the regulations that protect stocks from over exploitation.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s aim is to improve the sustainability of the fishery so it can be enjoyed by generations to come,” Minister Byrne said.

“That’s why I am encouraged by the latest statistics from Queensland Boating and Fisheries (QBFP) patrol which show 94% compliance with fisheries regulations in 2016.

“That high level of compliance shows that the vast majority of our fishers are doing the right thing.

“It is the second successive year that our patrols have recorded a compliance rate of 94%,” he said.

Last year QBFP carried out 25,092 inspections across the state.

They detected a total of 2,447 offences.

There were 1,337 Caution Notices and 986 Fisheries Infringement Notices issued with fines totalling $502,230, and 50 court prosecutions resulted in fines of $226,609.

The most common fisheries-related offence in Queensland in 2016 was recreational fishers breaching size and possession limits for regulated fish species.

“The patrols enforce compliance with Queensland’s fishing and boating safety laws through surveillance, inspections and education,” the Minister said.

“Regular patrols are conducted across Queensland, including joint enforcement operations with partner agencies including Queensland Police, Maritime Safety Queensland and other organisations.

“Compliance activities focus on the highest priority risks and targeted operations are conducted in response to community concerns and specific intelligence information.

“We rely on members of the public to be our eyes and ears and to report suspicious activity that could be damaging fish stocks.”

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol relies on ongoing community support to provide relevant and timely information relating to potential offences against our valuable fisheries resources.

People who suspect illegal activity shouldreport it by calling the 24 hour toll-free Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116.

They should provide as much detail as possible including:

- The date, time and area where the illegal fishing activity occurred

- Any vehicle registration numbers and a description of any vehicles involved

- Any boat registration numbers and a description of any vessels involved

- If they know the person or persons involved, give their details as well

- Give an accurate description of the activity involved, e.g. setting large numbers of crab pots, netting the local creek on low tides.

Most common offences in 2016
Recreational fisher take or possess up to 3 fish regulated by size or up to 3 fish more than the regulated number	605 offences
Contravene a regulated fishing apparatus declaration by a recreational fisher	423 offences
Recreational fisher take or possess regulated fish	316 offences
Recreational fisher contravene a regulated waters declaration	122 offences
A person required to have a document available for immediate inspection must produce it immediately	116 offences
Take or possess or sell fish regulated by size	34 offences
Fail to comply with regulated fishing apparatus or regulated fishing declaration	22 offences
Contravened a condition of an authority (licence)	12 offences
Take or possess or sell fish regulated by number	12 offences
Interfere with an aquaculture activity or apparatus	11 offences

Follow these tips for responsible fishing in Queensland.

Check your limits	For a complete list of size and possession limits, visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au or download the Qld Fishing app.
Measuring devices	Use a sturdy ruler with an end stop to measure the length of your fish or a crab gauge to measure your crabs.
Identify your catch	Always carry a fish identification guide or download the Qld Fishing app. Remember, fish that look similar may in fact be different species with different size and possession limits. If you can’t ID it, free it.
Gently does it	When a fish is hooked, avoid playing it on the line for too long. The stressed fish will become exhausted quickly and have less chance of survival if required to be released.
Check your gear	A number of restrictions apply to fishing gear in Queensland. Check the rules online at www.fisheries.qld.gov.au
If it’s not yours, don’t touch it	Interfering with crab apparatus you didn’t set is illegal. If you’re concerned apparatus has been abandoned, report it to Fishwatch on 1800 017 116.

For more information on Queensland’s fishing rules and regulations, visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au, call 13 25 23 or download the free ‘Qld Fishing’ app from Apple and Google app stores.

Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@FisheriesQld).

Media: 0448 994 172

ENDS