Government proposes ban on commercial barramundi gillnetting following Albert and Logan outcry

Commercial gillnetting of barramundi would be banned in the Logan and Albert rivers under a new proposal by the Queensland government.

The controversial form of fishing, which involves a vertical wall of mesh netting trapping fish by their gills, has drawn widespread criticism from local anglers and opposition MPs who argue commercial fishers are cruelly, unsustainably and indiscriminately targeting barramundi and king threadfin salmon.

In October, calls for the act to be banned from local rivers made the front page of MyCity Logan.

In response, the state government over the weekend announced it would propose a ban on the commercial gillnetting of barramundi in all waterways south of Tin Can Bay.

This would reinstate restrictions that were removed by the previous state government in January 2024 – a decision the current government said was made “with no scientific basis”.

The government in a statement said the ban would remain until “the scientific evidence of sustainable catch levels can be established”.

“My department’s review uncovered former Labor Minister Mark Furner had absolutely no scientific basis when he chose to open gillnetting for barramundi south of Tin Can Bay in early 2024,” Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said.

“Labor made this decision without scientific knowledge of the fish population or its sustainability.

“This is exactly the reason why fishers were frustrated and angry with fisheries management under the former Labor government’s decade of decline.”

Gillnets have in the past proved to be deadly to other untargeted species that call the Logan and Albert home, with Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol finding turtles, birds, water dragons and more caught in nets.

However, the practice helps source the livelihoods of commercial fishers across the state, who have called for alternative fishing methods before any bans take place.

While gillnetting is not new to the Albert and Logan rivers, recreational fisherman say they have noticed a sharp increase in the amount of commercial netting and a drop in fish numbers.

Veteran angler Steve Morgan said his live sonar would last year detect about 100 barramundi during one outing in the Logan River.

“ This year, I reckon I’m seeing five in a session,” he said.

“I think [commercial fishers] have caught a significant amount of the barramundi in that river, and a lot of the threadfin in there as well.”

Other recreational fishermen have reported a barramundi reduction of more than 80%.

The Department of Primary Industries is currently investigating these complaints to “ensure operations are compliant with fisheries regulations and sustainable”.

Local Labor MP Melissa McMahon has led a petition signed by thousands calling on the government to ban gillnetting in the Logan and Albert rivers.

She said in October that sustainable fishing practices would protect breeding fish and “dramatically reduce” bycatch.

“Gillnet reforms should be part of a broader transition to more sustainable fishing practices that address a number of risks to our local environment,” she said.

“Our local rivers cater for recreational anglers, tourism operators and small businesses alike, all of whom rely on healthy fish stocks.”