Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the impending closure to the inshore gillnet fishery. A result of the joint state and federal government decision to wipe out gillnet fishing activities along Queensland’s East-Coast. This decision being “Making the Great Barrier Reef gillnet free by mid-2027”.

Stakeholders, industry and the public want the government to change the approach to the gillnet ban, taking into account that the N2 fishery does NOT gillnet on the Great Barrier Reef. Arrangements can be made to achieve the objectives of all parties without banning gillnet fishing.

We understand the pressure Australia is under from UNESCO, but feel there can be a set of guidelines that separate the inshore barramundi fishery and the Great Barrier Reef, eliminating the need for this fishery to be closed.

Gillnet fishing is sustainable. It operates under very strict guidelines, with quota systems in place as well as GPS tracking systems. We believe for these reasons Queensland gillnet fishers should not be the target and should be exempt from this UNESCO reform. 

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to reconsider and work with industry to develop a balanced solution that protects the Great Barrier Reef whilst also allowing sustainable fishing practices, including N2 inshore gillnet licences. For those fishers exiting the industry, they must be properly reimbursed for the resumption of their business enterprises.