About the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017–2027

The Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy: 2017–2027 sets out the government's reform agenda over 10 years, paving the way for a world-class fisheries management system.

The strategy outlines 33 actions to be delivered across 10 reform areas, with specific targets that we want to achieve by 2020 and 2027.

These reforms tick off on a number of commitments under the Reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan, highlighting the Queensland Government's commitment to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Fisheries Queensland works closely with stakeholders and the community to implement these important reforms.

It's the biggest fisheries reform in Queensland's history, and will ensure healthy fish stocks that will support thousands of Queensland jobs.

Reform areas

Foundation reforms

  • Improved monitoring and research
  • Sustainable catch limits
  • Improved engagement
  • Impacts on non-target species

Reform tools

  • Resource allocation
  • Harvest strategies
  • Fishing access and rules
  • Responsive decisions

Implementing reforms

  • Compliance
  • Resourcing

Benefits to Queensland

Managing our fisheries in a sustainable way ensures fish for the future, supports thousands of Queensland jobs and protects the marine ecosystem.

The community will be able to enjoy fresh Queensland seafood that is sustainably sourced.

Commercial fishers

  • More secure access entitlements
  • More stable and transparent operating environment through harvest strategies
  • More resilient fish stocks
  • Better fisheries data from all sectors
  • Increased government investment in new technology to collect data
  • Better management of risks to protected species to maintain fishery accreditation under federal legislation
  • More opportunities to be involved in fisheries management through working groups and other engagement activities
  • Defined and transparent process for reallocating access between sectors
  • Decision-making process that is more responsive to changing conditions.

Recreational fishers

  • More resilient fish stocks, allowing for a more satisfying recreational fishing experience and greater opportunities for recreational fishing-based tourism
  • Better fisheries data from all sectors and more opportunities to be involved in monitoring programs
  • Greater recognition of the value recreational fishing brings to regional communities
  • More opportunities to be involved in fisheries management through working groups and the development of harvest strategies
  • Clear harvest strategies for each fishery (including all sectors), which set out the fishery objectives, targets and triggers for management intervention
  • Clearer resource allocation arrangements between sectors.

Marine environment

  • Moving to best practice fisheries management
  • Larger fish stocks that are more resilient to adverse environmental factors (e.g. climate change and habitat degradation)
  • More timely and accurate fisheries data from all sectors to underpin decision-making
  • Greater consideration of the environmental impacts of fisheries through regular ecological risk assessments
  • Clear harvest strategies for each fishery (including all sectors), which will set out biological and ecological objectives, targets and triggers for management intervention.

Progress reports

Watch the video

  • Transcript

    Queensland has some amazing fisheries resources. That’s why, it’s important to Queenslanders that our fisheries resources are managed in a sustainable and responsible way.

    The Sustainable Fisheries Strategy sets out the government’s 10 year reform agenda.

    We are implementing the biggest reform to fisheries ever, paving the way for Queensland to have some of the world’s best-managed fisheries.

    The Strategy outlines 33 actions to be delivered across 10 reform areas, including:

    • satellite tracking on commercial fishing boats
    • harvest strategies
    • regionally specific fishing rules, and
    • new technologies.

    To support the reforms, the Queensland Government will invest in:

    • more frontline compliance officers
    • more fishery monitoring and research
    • better engagement with industry and stakeholders, and
    • more responsive decision and management.

    These reforms will ensure there are healthy fish stocks which will support thousands of Queensland jobs. We want to work with you to help shape and manage our fisheries over the next 10 years.

Last updated: 10 Jul 2024