About the Future Fishing structural adjustment

Background

The Australian and Queensland governments committed to maintaining the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage area that is considered 'not in danger'.

At the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in September 2023, the committee agreed to adopt the draft decision proposed by UNESCO (PDF, 4.8MB) to not consider the Great Barrier Reef for the List of World Heritage In Danger. The committee requested the submission of a progress report to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2024 for consideration at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.

In 2023 the Australian and Queensland governments announced a package to phase out gillnet fishing in the Great Barrier Reef by mid-2027 and transition to more sustainable fishing practices.

Phasing out gillnets in the Great Barrier Reef is a key commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef. The Queensland gillnet fishery within the Great Barrier Reef provided 2.6% of the entire east coast wild-caught seafood harvest to consumers.

The Queensland Government accepted the Future Fishing Taskforce recommendations regarding distribution of the $185 million joint package, committing $125 million to implement:

• phasing out of gillnets on the Great Barrier Reef
• rezoning the Great Sandy Marine Park
• increasing protection from gillnet impacts in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

To support regional economies, further investment into the aquaculture and tourism industries will also be funded.

The remaining $60 million from the Australian Government is for:

• additional programs to implement independent data validation
• further reduce bycatch in high-risk fisheries.

It is not for structural adjustment.

Support for affected licence holders

All licence holders

• $3,000 grant for seeking independent financial or legal advice to eligible licence holders.
• Symbol and individual transferable quota unit values established based on expert advice on values prior to the 5 June 2023 announcement.
• Holders of previous N4 and N2 symbols:
  • $150,000 for N4 symbols
  • $60,000 for N2 symbols.
• Holders of previous N1 symbols:
  • $35,000.
• Holders of these individual transferable quotas:
  • barramundi BM1–5: $17 per unit
  • king threadfin KT1–5: $20 per unit
  • grey mackerel GM1–5: $25 per unit.
• Holders of N10 and K symbols:
  • 80% of the value of the previous N1 symbol to acknowledge loss of access to management regions 1 to 4 ($28,000)
  • automatically granted an 'as of right' N15 symbol (similar to the previous).
• Eligible deck hands and skippers (employees):
  • ex-gratia payments ($8,000 and $10,000 respectively)
  • retraining.
• Nets bought back and additional financial support for net reel boat refit grants and other costs associated with stranded assets.
• Red tape removed to create new supply chain opportunities for line-caught barramundi.

Great Barrier Reef fishers

• Eligible licence or lease holders with recent catch history (since September 2021) in the Great Barrier Reef (management regions 1 to 4) under a previous N1, N2 or N4 symbol:
  • ex-gratia payment that approximates future income lost for a period of 3 years
  • based on average reported harvest and BDO beach values (and CPI indexation).
• Holders of previous N1, N2 or N4 licences with catch history in the Great Barrier Reef:
  • voluntary total licence package buy out for all eligible symbols and primary commercial fishing boat licence.
• Eligible holders of N11 licences with relevant catch history in the new net-free north:
  • ex-gratia payment.
• Special circumstances for eligible licence and lease holders considered.
• New temporary NX symbol for gillnetting in management regions 2 to 4 (Great Barrier Reef) for 28 licence holders (following consultation with industry).

Great Sandy Marine Park

• Eligible licence or lease holders with recent catch history since September 2021 in areas which are no longer accessible because of rezoning of the Great Sandy Marine Park under an eligible N, C1, L or T symbols:
  • ex-gratia payment that approximates future income lost for a period of 3 years
  • based on average reported harvest and BDO beach values (and CPI indexation).
• Holders of ITQ units for grey mackerel, school mackerel and whiting in management region 5:
  • voluntary buy out of $25 per GM5 unit, $20 per SM5 unit, $20 per WT5 unit.
• Holders of previous N1 or N2 licences with catch history in the Great Sandy Marine Park:
  • voluntary total licence package buy out for all eligible symbols and primary commercial fishing boat licence.
• Other impacted fisheries (harvest, marine aquarium fish):
  • ex-gratia payment that approximates future income lost for a period of 3 years.
• Special circumstances for eligible licence and lease holders considered.

Great Barrier Reef gillnet licence from 2024 to June 2027

As part of transitional arrangements for commercial fishers, the Queensland Government has issued a limited number of gillnet fishing symbols (NX) for the Great Barrier Reef region that will expire on 30 June 2027.

These will be available to existing eligible fishers and operate under similar arrangements as the previous N2 arrangements, with the following exceptions:

• defined Dugong Protection Area A areas closed to gillnets
• defined Dugong Protection Area B areas closed to gillnets—except associated rivers and creeks, which will remain open
• harvest of key species not subject to individual transferable quota—competitive regional total allowable commercial catch limits
• commitment to independent data validation through onboard observers or cameras is a mandatory condition of operating
• automatic expiration on 30 June 2027.

A further new symbol (N15) replaces the existing gillnet licences operating south of the Great Barrier Reef in management region 5, available to existing eligible licence holders and operate as per the previous N1 arrangements, and the take of barramundi will be permitted.

Other initiatives

Other initiatives that will be implemented under the Queensland Government's $125 million funding include:

• $2 million for supply chain business diversification grants
• $1.5 million for reskilling and retraining grants and support
• $2.25 million to support employees such as deckhands and skippers
• $15 million to develop a whole-of-government strategy to accelerate and adopt innovative best-practice sustainable aquaculture in Queensland
• $4.5 million with matching Australian Government funding to support an evidence-based approach to developing and trialling sustainable alternative commercial fishing gear
• $2.95 million for developing and growing sustainable regional jobs, and supporting master fishers training and threatened species protection
• $1.5 million for making hammerhead shark a no-take species for commercial fishers.

Support

QRIDA (structural adjustment payments)

• Call 1800 623 946
• Visit qrida.qld.gov.au

Fisheries Queensland

• Email Future.Fishing@daf.qld.gov.au
• Call 13 25 23

Small business support

Access free services to support your small business:

• Find a small business financial counsellor near you.
• Learn about the mentoring and growth programs.
• Engage a small business wellness coach.

Rural Financial Counselling Service

• Provides free financial counselling to help you if you are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.
• Call 1300 771 741.
• Visit the southern Queensland or northern Queensland website to find a counsellor in your area.

Stay Afloat

• We acknowledge the difficulties the commercial fishing industry is facing.
• We have partnered with Stay Afloat to provide confidential mental health support and advice.