Port Stephens

Port Stephens – Prawn nets

Any method involving the use of the following:

(a) a dip or scoop net prawns),

(b) a hand-hauled prawn net,

(c) a push or scissor net (prawns).

Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW), Section 8 Notification – Fishing Closure Port Stephens - Prawn Nets, Government Gazette 52 (PDF, 22.55 KB) , 3 June 2014 at page 2006.

Recreational Fishing Crab Gear in Port Stephens

Extending to the Myall River to a point immediately to the downstream from the Myall Street Bridge at the town of Hawks Nest.

Definitions: “waters of Port Stephens” means the whole of the waters of Port Stephens and its tributaries, from a line drawn between the southern extremity of Yacaaba Headland to the northern extremity of Tomaree Headland up to the tidal limits of the tributaries, including that part of the waters of the Myall River to the downstream side of the Myall Street Bridge at the town of Hawks Nest.

Any species of fish.

Using a hoop or lift net or a recreational crab trap
to take fish from the waters of Port Stephens unless the following conditions are complied with:

(a) the hoop or lift net is used or set only between sunrise to sunset,

(b) crabs may only be taken using the hoop or lift net during the hours of sunrise to sunset,

(c) when using the hoop or lift net, no part of the net is suspended above the hoop(s) after the net has been set,

(d) when using the recreational crab trap, all entrances to the trap do not exceed a maximum internal diameter of
320mm.

Until and including 23 July 2025.

Explanatory note: This fishing closure has been implemented to reduce marine turtle interactions with recreational fishing crab gear in Port Stephens.

Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW), Section 8 and 11 Notification – Fishing Closure - Recreational Fishing Crab Gear in Port Stephens (PDF, 1.26 MB), Government Gazette 166, 31 July 2020 at page 3819.