Operating a trawl fishery

Trawl fisheries are Queensland's largest commercial fishery, with 3 main fisheries:

Different major commercial species are taken in different fisheries.

Management

  • Harvest strategies apply to each trawl region:
    • Northern trawl region
    • Central trawl region
    • Southern inshore trawl region
    • Southern offshore trawl region
    • Moreton Bay trawl region.
  • The trawl fishery working group provides operational advice on the management of the east coast otter trawl fishery.

Operating areas

Quota and effort units

Equipment

Check the gear and net requirements for the specific fishery you plan to work in. Trawl fishing gear restrictions apply and differ between the trawl regions.

Trawlers are allowed to:

  • tow more than 1 otter trawl or beam trawl
  • use both beam and otter trawl gear to take prawns.

All vessels used in a trawl fishery must have an approved vessel tracking unit.

Bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) are mandatory for all otter trawls and beam trawls.

Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) are mandatory for:

  • all otter trawls
  • some beam trawl nets.

Illegal gear

Some fishing devices are illegal because they can damage the seafloor and the fishery.

You cannot use or possess:

  • trawl spikes
  • ploughs
  • rippers
  • similar devices that attach to trawl sleds, boards or beams.

Otter and beam trawl nets are regulated to:

  • manage the total amount of 'swept area' in the fishery
  • minimise the impact on non-permitted species.

Check the net and gear requirements for the specific fishery symbol on your primary commercial fishing licence.

Closures

Trawling is prohibited or restricted in specific areas to:

  • protect habitat and nursery grounds
  • maintain broodstock
  • reduce bycatch.

Areas closed to trawling:

  • Last reviewed: 13 Feb 2024
  • Last updated: 28 Feb 2024