This notice provides a summary of recent changes to fisheries rules introduced through the Fisheries Management Amendment Regulation 2011. The changes commenced in March 2011 and involved amendments to the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010 and a number of the Share Management Plan Regulations. The revised regulations can be viewed on the NSW legislation website: www.legislation.nsw.gov.au or accessed through links on the I&I NSW website

If you have any questions related to the amendments please contact the Fisheries Resource Management Unit on (02) 9527 8411.

Changes across multiple fisheries

Class 2 commercial fishing licences

Class 2 commercial fishing licences have been removed from the regulation. This means crew in the Lobster and Abalone fisheries no longer require a licence.

Licence splitting

Restrictions related to the transfer of shares or endorsements by dual operator fishing businesses (businesses with both NSW and other jurisdiction authority) have been removed.

Marking of some set gear

Where relevant, the Estuary General or Ocean Trap and Line Share Management Plans now make it clearer as to the marking requirements of the hoop or lift net, set line, drift line and spanner crab net. The marking arrangements have not changed, however they are now located in the relevant Share Management Plan Regulations.

Estuary General Fishery

Crab, fish and eel trap marking

The requirement to have a weight suspended on ropes not less than a specified distance under the buoy has been removed. The Regulation now requires that the buoy is moored in such a way that no rope is floating on the surface of the water.  This gives fishers scope to use gear such as lead core rope.

Hand-hauled prawn net

Up to 2 hauling lines that are not more than 2 m in length may now be attached to the net.

Dip or scoop net (prawns) and push or scissors net (prawns)

The restriction on being able to use only one net at any one time has been removed for both nets. The requirement for the push or scissors net (prawns) to be operated by only one person has also been removed.

Estuary Prawn Trawl Fishery

Clarence River and Lake Wooloweyah prawn trawl season

New arrangements improve flexibility with fisheries officers now able to conditionally extend the trawl season to certain parts of the Clarence River or Lake Wooloweyah. This provides for a more efficient decision making and implementation process. 

Under previous arrangements a fisheries officer could extend the season, allowing an early opening and/or late closing for all open waters of the river and lake. However, extending the season conditionally to a certain part of the river or lake required a separate fishing closure notification.

Ocean Trawl Fishery

Wobbegong limit

Consistent with arrangements in the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery, a daily and possession limit of 6 Wobbegong now also applies to all Ocean Trawl endorsement holders.