Report commercial catch

Queensland's commercial fisheries are legally required to report information about their fishing activities to Fisheries Queensland.

If you are a commercial fisher working in a ITQ or a PCC quota fishery, you must report your catch. The commercial fisher in control of the fishing operation is responsible for meeting these reporting requirements. There are different requirements for certain fisheries to manage the unique nature of fishing practices involved.

You need to complete reporting for each fishing operation.

Fishing operations

A '‘fishing operation' (or trip):

  • starts when the boat leaves a landing place to go fishing
  • ends when the boat stops being used for fishing and lands.

There are specific definitions for the start and end of a fishing operation if you are taking fish:

  • using a boat, but not a beach seine net:
    • starts when the boat leaves a landing place to carry out fishing
    • ends when the boat stops being used for fishing and lands.
  • using a boat and a beach seine net:
    • starts when the boat enters a beach or foreshore to carry out fishing
    • ends when the boat stops being used for fishing and leaves the beach or foreshore.
  • without using a boat:
    • starts when the fisher in control or an assistant fisher arrives at a place to carry out fishing
    • ends when the fisher in control or assistant fisher stops fishing and leaves the place.

A 'landing place' means the place where the boat is landed at the end of each fishing operation.

Logbooks

Logbooks must be:

  • completed at the end of each day of a fishing operation
  • before landing at the end of the fishing operation
  • available for immediate inspection.

Catch disposal records are required for particular quota fisheries.

Notices

You need to give notification about your fishing activities and the quota fish you've caught and landed.

Different requirements apply based on the industry or symbol that you are operating.

Before you depart:

During a fishing operation:

After landing and before you depart on your next fishing operation:

In an emergency:

How to report

The free Qld eFisher app allows eligible commercial fishers to use a mobile device to:

  • check quota balances
  • report notices
  • submit logbooks and catch disposal records
  • access information linked to your licence
  • check your vessel unit polling
  • manually report your position in the event of a vessel tracking unit malfunction (primary vessel only).

You can also complete paper logbooks and phone the Automated Interactive Voice Response (AIVR) phone system to:

  • check quota balances
  • give notices
  • check your vessel unit polling
  • manually report your position in the event of a vessel tracking unit malfunction (primary vessel only).
  • Last reviewed: 13 Feb 2024
  • Last updated: 22 Feb 2024