In October 2015 three gill Net-Free Zones (NFZ) were announced for Queensland. One of these zones runs from St. Helens to Cape Hillsborough, Mackay. Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance has monitored this net free zone three times, once before the net free zone was put in place (Oct 15) and twice since it was enforced (Feb/March 2016 and Feb/March 2017). This monitoring has provided evidence that the net-free zone is effective in improving fish stocks in the area by showing a decrease in the time taken to catch a legal size fish. Ongoing annual monitoring is planned to occur in Feb/March and will include 1500 fishing hours each time.
Monitoring Organisation Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance
Name John Bennett
Phone 0408 844610
Email bennj102@gmail.com
Position in organisation President
Activity Type science and research (e.g. monitoring activities, trials of innovative practices or new equipment)
Activity Indicators fauna (fish) health in inshore marine zones
Activity location Central inshore zone
Frequency of monitoring
Monitoring Start Date 01/10/2015
31/12/2018Location of monitoring data
Date quality / confidence
Website URL http://www.mackayrecfishersalliance.org/net-free-zone.html
Collaborators Reef Catchments
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