Aboriginal cultural fishing daily bag & possession limits
Aboriginal Cultural Fishing Interim Access
Application of this Aboriginal cultural fishing interim access arrangement is on the basis that the taking of fish and other activities listed in this document is recognised as permitted Aboriginal cultural fishing when undertaken in line with the complete reading of the arrangement.
Please read the arrangement in its entirety before undertaking fishing activity - Aboriginal cultural fishing interim access. (PDF, 219.53 KB)
If the interim access arrangement is not fully complied with, fishing activity is open to full application of fisheries law as it is prescribed. For clarification of the arrangements please email the Aboriginal Fishing team at Aboriginal.fishing@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Access Arrangement
For the purpose of providing for Aboriginal cultural needs, where elders, the incapacitated, or other community members are unable to, or it is otherwise not appropriate for them to engage in cultural fishing activity, the amount of fish that is operationally from a compliance perspective allowed to be taken or possessed by the individual Aboriginal person undertaking the fishing is double that of the current recreational bag/possession limits, other than for those species with specific limits tabled below.
| Species | Daily Take Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Abalone | 10 | 10 |
| Eastern Blue Groper | 4* | 4* |
| Flathead (Other than Dusky Flathead) | 40 | 40 |
| Bream and Tarwhine | 40 in total | 40 in total |
| Tailor | 40 | 40 |
| Blue Swimmer Crab | 40 | 40 |
| Trevallies | 40 | 40 |
| Luderick (Blackfish) | 40 | 40 |
| Murray Cod | 4 | 8 |
| Pipi**, Cockle or Blue Mussels (combined species limit) | 100 | 100 |
* Only two of which can be over 60cm.
**Under fisheries regulations, a person must not take pipis except for use as bait and only take pipis from within 50 metres of the high-water mark and not remove them from within 50 metres of the high-water mark.
The shucking of abalone, rock lobster and turban shell within 100 metres of the high water mark is also being accommodated from the compliance operational perspective if the fish are consumed within that area.
The interim access arrangement is applicable to all waters from which the recreational harvest of fish is permitted including the appropriate zones of marine parks and aquatic reserves.
Nothing in this interim access arrangement extends to activities or methods of fishing beyond the rules as prescribed in or through legislation, apart from what is specifically provided for under this interim access arrangement.
If there are needs that are in excess of what this interim access arrangement provides for such as may be needed for larger cultural events, application for authority under section 37 of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 should be made.
Section 37 authorities are issued to provide defence to prosecution related to activities that are identified in the authority in line with any conditions detailed in the authority. Similarly additional application for access to marine park areas where proposed fishing activity would not normally be allowed will be needed.
All applications for authorities are assessed with a view to provide access to resources unless there are overriding resource management or other concerns.