By Rose Astley
Starting from 12.01am July 15, pearl perch and snapper will be prohibited to take from Queensland waters.Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said this new closure would apply to all fishers, commercial, charter and recreational.
“This seasonal closure is similar to spawning closures for barramundi and reef fin fish species, which have been critical to ensuring the sustainability of these fisheries,” Mr Furner said.
“During this closure, I encourage fishers to target other species and take advantage of the fish aggregating devices (FADs) that have been installed along the South East Queensland coast.
“We are taking this step because snapper and pearl perch stocks are depleted and we need to take the pressure off, to ensure there are fish for future, we need to take action now,” Mr Furner said.Fisheries Queensland said if snapper or pearl perch are caught during the closure, it is important to handle the fish carefully, dehook it appropriately, and release it as soon as possible.The closure ends at 11.59pm on 15 August.The penalty for breaching the closure will face on-the-spot fines of $533 for recreational fishers or $1067 for commercial fishers, with a maximum penalty of $133,450 if an offence is prosecuted in court.
