Fishing closures, restrictions and permits

Fisheries rules

Our State's fisheries are a community-owned resource. We all have a responsibility to protect and safeguard this natural asset for present and future generations. There are comprehensive laws designed to ensure that fishing activities remain sustainable, and that biological diversity is protected.

Local I&I NSW Fisheries Offices maintain a comprehensive list of local fisheries rules and actively advises the public about these. It is important that it is understood that the information provided on this website only provides some of the controls that people need to abide by in respect to their fishing and other activities related to our aquatic resources. The local I&I NSW Fisheries Office should be contacted for the most comprehensive advice on activities that are being contemplated in an area. For summarised information on local fishing information see these Primefacts.

Recreational fishers need to be aware of the fishing rules and regulations that apply to recreational fishing such as bag & size limits, methods, the use of traps and nets and other regulations.

I&I NSW has a role in enforcing the following laws regarding recreational and commercial fishing.

Fishing closures

Recreational saltwater closures

• Location closures
• General closures
• Spearfishing closures

Recreational freshwater closures

• Summary of fishing closures for major freshwater fish species
• Trout and salmon fishing closures   112kb
• General freshwater fishing closures   517kb

Commercial closures

• Commercial fishing closures

Aquaculture closures

• QX Disease closure   88 kb
• QX Disease quarantine order (www.nsw.gov.au)    90 kb
• Pacific Oyster closure   65 kb

Marine protected areas

• Intertidal Protected Areas
• Aquatic Reserves (www.environment.nsw.gov.au)
• NSW Marine Parks (www.mpa.nsw.gov.au)
• Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas (www.environment.gov.au)

Other relevant closures

• Little Penguin Critical Habitat - Sydney North Harbour (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au)
  
• New South Wales submarine cable protection zones (www.acma.gov.au)
• Japanese Midget Sub - Heritage Order (www.heritage.nsw.gov.au)
• Declared diseases and quarantine orders
• Orders Lowland Darling and Lachlan Rivers   80 kb
• Caulerpa taxifolia Section 8 closures 

Permits

Legislation

• Discard Chute Guidelines
• Ocean Trawl Bycatch Reduction Devices
• Estuary Prawn Trawl Bycatch Reduction Devices
  
• Trawl whiting and school prawn grounds
• Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries management (General) Regulation 2010
• Fisheries Management (Aquatic Reserves) Regulation 2002 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries Management (Aquaculture) Regulation 2007 
• Fisheries Management (Lobster Share Management Plan) Regulation 2000 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries Management (Abalone Share Management Plan) Regulation 2000 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Environmental Planning and Assessment Act - Division 5 of Part 5 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries Management (Supporting Plan) Regulation 2006 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries Management (Ocean Trawl Share Management Plan) Regulation 2006 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries Management (Ocean Trap and Line Share Management Plan) Regulation 2006 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries Management (Estuary General Share Management Plan) Regulation 2006 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries Management (Estuary Prawn Trawl Share Management Plan) Regulation 2006 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)
• Fisheries Management (Ocean Haul Share Management Plan) Regulation 2006 (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au)