Net-free fishing zones improve angler satisfaction

Queensland’s net-free zones are providing positive recreational fishing experiences in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton, confirms a new report titled Recreational fishers’ satisfaction and expectations of Queensland’s net free zones.

The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in Queensland, Bill Byrne, said recreational fishers reported increased satisfaction with their fishing experiences in the net-free zones since their introduction in November 2015.

"In the Mackay net-free zone, we’ve seen a significant increase in recreational fisher satisfaction when compared to the previous year," the Minister said.

"In the Cairns and Rockhampton net-free zones, recreational fishers are continuing to enjoy fishing in these areas, consistent with last year."

The report also showed that people who fished recreationally more than two days per month had the greatest increase in satisfaction. On average their satisfaction increased more than 25 per cent from 2015 to 2016.

Minister Byrne said these results were promising. 

"The net-free fishing zones were introduced to increase recreational fishing opportunities in regional Queensland and support tourism and economic growth, so it’s great to see these early positive results," he said. 

The net-free fishing zones were introduced in November 2015 and are located at Trinity Bay off Cairns, St Helens Beach to Cape Hillsborough north of Mackay, and the Capricorn Coast from Yeppoon down to Rockhampton (including the Fitzroy River).

The Queensland Government will continue to monitor fishing in the net-free zones to capture any changes over time to recreational fisher satisfaction, as well as the species, number and size of fish caught. 

Nathan Johnston, President of the Queensland branch of the Australian National Sportfishing Association, welcomed the results from the new report. 

"These results demonstrate that the net-free zones are having a positive influence on recreational fishers’ satisfaction," Mr Johnston said. 

"While anecdotally our members have been reporting better catches, it is great to see robust science and monitoring of recreational fishing to reinforce any long-term changes attributed to these net-free zones. 

There is a push to go net-free in Hervey and Moreton bays, too, and recreational fishers with vast experience in both areas say the fisheries have declined to the point the nets must go.

To download the reports or learn more about the net-free fishing zones see this link for Queensland Fisheries.