COMMUNITY WIN NEWS!
There’s big news for Queensland’s fishing community – and I’m proud to say it’s the result of science, common sense, and some good old-fashioned advocacy from our wonderful fishing community. This is a big win for our region and something I have been fighting hard for behind the scenes ever since my campaigning days.
A new, independent stock assessment has confirmed what many in our community have long believed: Spanish mackerel populations are sustainable and on the rise. This year’s assessment found the stock has likely doubled since the controversial 2021 review under the former Labor Government.
This is a major step forward. The flawed 2021 Labor-era stock assessment caused unnecessary hardship for fishers and uncertainty across the industry. I fought hard to have it reviewed, raising the issue repeatedly with the Minister and in Parliament – and many of you backed that push by attending my fisheries forum last year. Thank you for standing up and sharing your voices.
Now, under the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to evidence-based policy, we’re seeing the benefits:
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- Recreational catch limits are proposed to double (from 2 to 4 fish per boat).
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- Commercial limits are proposed to increase by 51.5%, from 165 to 250 tonnes.
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- Harvest targets are being realigned with Commonwealth standards, ensuring a sustainable fishery that’s in line with national best practice.
The assessment also confirms Spanish mackerel are fast-growing and highly reproductive – meaning that with proper safeguards (like those around spawning grounds), we can fish with confidence and sustainability.
This is the first stock assessment conducted under the new, science-backed framework introduced by the Crisafulli Government. It’s a fresh chapter for fisheries management in Queensland – one that puts fishers and facts first.
As public consultation opens later this year, I’ll continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure fair and balanced outcomes. This win belongs to every single person who stood up. A big thank you to all the Stakeholders who attended a forum I put on last year at Yorkeys Knob Beach Club and to the Minister, Tony Perrett for listening to my many requests!
Let’s keep working together – and keep our fisheries strong.
More details:
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- The minimum legal-size limit will remain at 75 centimetres.
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- The charter fishing limit will remain unchanged (one fish per person, no boat limit).
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- A 51.5% increase to the commercial quota has been modelled to provide approximately $3.5 million in gross value of production to the Queensland economy.
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- 93% of Queensland stocks assessed under the national process have no sustainability concerns.
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- Spanish mackerel is one of only five fish stocks with sustainability concerns.
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- Fisheries Queensland’s latest stock assessment was published on 7 May 2025 and is available here.
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- The Sustainable Fisheries Expert Panel met on the 15 July 2025 and endorsed the recommendations.
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