A healthy fishing future is in your hands. Creating a positive community of fishers is fundamental to safeguarding our waterways and supporting sustainable fishing, ensuring thriving waterways and aquatic resources for generations to come. By protecting fish stocks and ensuring the places we love remain safe and accessible for all, we can maintain the incredible fishing experiences that can be found in NSW.
Fishing spots can get crowded especially during holidays, long weekends and good weather days. Being a responsible fisher means being aware of your surroundings and how you interact with others, whether you're casting your line or on your way to your favourite spot. Let's maintain the integrity of our fishing community through positive actions and by protecting our environment and fisheries resources.
Here’s how you can contribute positively:
- Respect other water users and do your best to limit your impact on them whilst they are also enjoying the environment. For example, be considerate of beach goers, swimmers, surfers and divers when fishing and do what you can to make sure your activity doesn’t negatively impact their experience or safety. This includes keeping your line clear of others and when casting.
- Avoid using large quantities of fish-based berley or fishing for sharks when fishing in popular swimming areas or when people are in the water.
- Fish responsibly at all times, using best practice fishing techniques when handling and releasing, or dispatching fish. Be aware that others may be watching, so always set a good example in your fishing approach.
- Be aware of people walking dogs and be conscious that dogs will likely be drawn to the smell of bait, fish or fish waste. Take precautions to minimise the chance of having your bait taken or the dog getting caught on a hook by removing your bait and securing your hooks when you’re not fishing.
- Looking out for fellow fishers and other members of the community.
- Reporting illegal activity (if safe to do so). You can report illegal activity online.
Social licence for fishing is dependent on broad community acceptance and support of the activity. The broader community has a range of views on fishing including on the ethics of consumption of fish. To maintain social licence, recreational fishing must meet community standards on the ethical and humane treatment of fish, minimise impacts on the environment and be respectful to other members of the community to ensure a positive future for the sport.
Boating Respectfully
When taking the boat out to fish follow these tips to ensure a safe trip:
- Follow NSW maritime rules and regulations.
- Be ready to launch when arriving at the boat ramp. Long queues can lead to frustration. Make sure you are familiar with how to back up a boat trailer into the water before arriving at the boat ramp. Practicing on dry land in a safe way can save time and stress.
- Be aware of your wake – not only in ‘slow zones’ if you’re passing other fishers, kayaks, swimmers or anyone out on the water you need to slow down. For fishers, in particular, the sound could scare off fish.
- Give space to others fishing.
- Boat rage can cause people to act uncharacteristically, highlighting the importance of being considerate of other people and treating others with respect.
Responsible fishing around oyster leases
The NSW Oyster industry supports valuable regional employment and investment. Please ensure that your vessel, your vessel’s wash and your fishing tackle does not interfere with any part of an oyster lease, including the Oysters. Hooks and lures abandoned on Oyster sticks, baskets and trays may cause serious injury to oyster industry workers so please fish responsibly around oyster leases. Boat wash may wash over Oyster crops from lease infrastructure and may pose significant risk of injury to industry workers on the lease. Do not tie up to lease marker posts. For more information on responsibly fishing around oyster leases, please check out this page and watch the video on responsible fishing around oyster leases.