Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that the citizens of Queensland call for the Mary River and its tributaries up to Highest Astronomical Tide mark to be legislated as a net free zone.

The new zoning plan for Great Sandy Marine Park (GSMP) will remove large mesh gill nets from yellow conservation park zones. However, the waters above the GSMP boundary on the Mary River from approximately Beaver Rock and its tributaries will continue to be commercially netted so MUST be declared NET-FREE.

The Mary River contains the southernmost population of wild barramundi on the country's east coast. With more commercial fishing licenses able to target barramundi in southeast Queensland, the risk of overfishing will have an impact on the barramundi population and the economic, social, and environmental values of the region. 

Without exception, studies of the economic value of inshore fish resources show that a kilogram of fish caught by a recreational angler is worth between 10 and 100 times the value of that same fish caught by a commercial fisher. Barramundi, in particular, has a higher multiplier effect being recognized as an iconic species internationally.

Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Fraser Coast communities will benefit enormously from a net free Mary River.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to support amendments to regulation that declare the Mary River as a Net Free Zone via a resource allocation.