Why do we have closed seasons?

Closed seasons (regulated waters) prevent people from fishing at certain times of the year to protect species at vulnerable times in their life cycle, such as during spawning seasons.

Australian bass

A closed season applies to Australian bass throughout Queensland from 1 June to 31 August. See also the section on freshwater closed seasons (Australian bass) for information on taking bass from some fresh water during the closure.

Barramundi

Throughout the Queensland east coast, a closed season applies to barramundi from midday 1 November to midday 1 February.

Throughout the Gulf of Carpentaria and adjoining waterways west and south of the intersection of longitude 142°09'E with the shore at high tide, a closed season applies to barramundi.

The Gulf of Carpentaria closed seasons for barramundi for 2011-2013 are:

• midday 4 October 2011 to midday 1 February 2012.

All following years:

• midday 7 October to midday 1 February (but possession on boats allowed to midday 17 October).

It is also prohibited to deliberately target barramundi for catch and release during these closed seasons, as the stress of capture may prevent a fish from spawning.

See also the section on freshwater closed seasons (barramundi) for information on taking barramundi from some freshwater during the closure.

Coral reef fin fish

Coral reef fin fish closure dates for 2012-2013:

• 12 October to 16 October 2012, and 11 November to 15 November 2012
• 2 October to 6 October 2013, and 31 October to 4 November 2013.

Tidal waters within the following boundary are closed waters for coral reef fin fish:

• from the northern tip of Cape York along latitude 10°41' south
• to longitude 145° east
• to latitude 13° south, longitude 145° east
• to latitude 15° south, longitude 146° east
• to latitude 17°30' south, longitude 147° east
• to latitude 21° south, longitude 152°55' east
• to latitude 24°30' south, longitude 154° east
• to latitude 24°50' south, longitude 154° east along latitude 24°50' south to the mainland shore along the shore to the northern tip of Cape York at latitude 10°41' south.

A basic online guide has been developed to help identify fish listed as Coral Reef Fin Fish. This reef fish web guide groups fish into families. For full details of the legislation visit the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel website.

Spanner crabs and tropical spiny rock lobsters

See Crabs and lobsters.