Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that currently the Fisheries Queensland (FQ) Reform Impacts proposed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries aims to radically reduce Spanish Mackerel catch quota for commercial and recreational fisherman for East Coast Queensland.

It is proposed to reduce the:

• total allowable catch for commercial fisheries by 80%; and

• current recreational bag limits to one fish per person with a maximum of two per boat.

The proposal is based on outdated data using unsubstantiated biomass levels of fish stocks and estimations were paramount in arriving at the East Coast Spanish Mackerel Working Group's decision.

The FQ Reform Impacts will negatively impact multiple industries and small businesses such as:

• tourism and hospitality businesses (fish and chip shops, takeaways, cafe and restaurants);

• commercial fisherman, wholesale/retail seafood outlets and charter operations; and

• tackle shops and suppliers to the commercial/recreational fishing industry.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House do all within its power to ensure the current allocation of commercial and recreational Spanish Mackerel quotas remain unchanged, until scientific data-based evidence is provided that supports bio-mass levels being reduced to a point where the East Coast Spanish Mackerel Fishery is unsustainable.