Fishwatch hotline

To report unlawful fishing in Queensland, call the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116 (toll free within Queensland).

For general fisheries enquiries, contact the QPIF Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 (for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Queensland).

What it's all about

The Fishwatch hotline was created so that suspected unlawful fishing activities can be reported directly to the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol by the public.

Unlawful activites include:

• unlawful use of nets
• fishing in closed waters
• fishing in closed seasons
• taking female crabs (Jennies)
• taking undersize fish
• taking excess to specified bag limits on fish
• using excess numbers of crab pots/dillies
• destruction or disturbance of marine habitat
• interfering with other people's crabpots/dillies or other fishing apparatus
• taking oysters from licensed oyster grounds

What to do

If you see, or have any information on fishing activities that you suspect are unlawful, you should follow these simple steps:

• record the date, time and area where the activity occurs
• record any vehicle registration numbers and a description of any vehicles involved
• record any boat registration numbers and a description of any vessels involved
• if you 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
• ring the Fishwatch hotline to pass on this information.