What’s happening?
Queensland’s waterways fill each summer with families, friends and solo anglers enjoying the warmer months. About one in five Queenslanders now fish recreationally, catching almost four million fish each year.
Researchers say recreational fishing can have a major effect on fish populations, especially for popular species that are targeted often.
Why it matters
As Queensland’s population grows, more people are fishing more often. New technology has also made fishing more efficient. For some well known species, the recreational catch now matches or exceeds commercial catches.
Lucas Sumpter, a Fisheries Scientist with the Department of Primary Industries, said this shift matters for how fisheries are managed.
“Thanks to population growth in Queensland and our love for fishing, we have so many more people on the water these days and for some iconic species, the recreational catch now matches or even exceeds the commercial sector catch,” Mr Sumpter said.
“It’s not just the number of people, but also advances in technology that have increased our fishing efficiency and capacity to impact fish stocks.”
Local impact
With more pressure on fish stocks, fisheries managers rely on accurate data from all fishing sectors. Recreational fishers now play a central role in shaping future fishing rules across Queensland.
Principal Fisheries Manager Jeff Ikin said understanding recreational effort is essential.
“It does depend on the fish species, but at times it’s recreational fishers who have the biggest impact on fish populations, and this is reflected in harvest strategies,” Mr Ikin said.
“Understanding fishing effort from all sectors is crucial for sustainable management.”
By the numbers
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Around one in five Queenslanders fish recreationally, making it one of the state’s most popular outdoor activities.
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Recreational fishers catch close to four million fish each year, a level that can rival commercial harvests for some species.
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For certain iconic species, recreational catches now match or exceed commercial sector catches, increasing management pressure.
Zoom in
With recreational fishing on the rise, logging each catch has become more important. Fisheries staff say better data leads to better decisions.
“Better data equals better modelling, and that leads to better decisions by fisheries managers,” Mr Sumpter said.
“We can only model the data we have to understand fish populations, so when recreational fishers log their catch, they’re directly providing data that improves the science behind the rules.”
Zoom out
Recreational fishing supports local economies, family traditions and outdoor lifestyles across Queensland. Balancing these benefits with healthy fish populations depends on shared responsibility between fishers and managers.
Mr Ikin said incomplete data can lead to tighter rules.
“In the absence of complete information, we have to act cautiously and use the best information available, which can mean tighter restrictions,” he said.
What to look for next?
Fisheries managers will continue boat ramp surveys while encouraging more anglers to log trips using the Qld Fishing 2.0 app. More detailed data could support better stock management and, when fish populations are healthy, allow rules to ease.
“We’ll continue to use boat ramp surveys to understand fish populations, and the addition of the app can help us gain a more complete image of our fisheries, with data submitted directly by fishers,” Mr Ikin said.
