FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brisbane, QLD – October 14, 2025 — The Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA), representing Australia’s $11b recreational fishing industry, has formally responded to the Department of Primary Industries’ proposed changes to the East Coast Spanish Mackerel harvest strategy. Link: https://afta.net.au/submission-proposed-management-and-harvest-strategy-changes-for-east-coast-spanish-mackerel/
While recent data suggests Spanish Mackerel stocks have improved, AFTA warns that the proposed 51.5% increase in the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) — from 165 to 250 tonnes — unfairly favours the commercial sector. Recreational fishers, who faced a 66% reduction in bag limits in 2023, are offered no real relief under the new strategy.
“This imbalance risks undermining the viability of Queensland’s recreational fishing sector, which contributes $2.52 billion to the state economy and supports over 23,000 jobs, far exceeding the commercial sector’s $558 million and 4,576 jobs, underscoring the need for equitable management,” said AFTA Chairperson Bob Baldwin.
AFTA urges the Queensland Government to:
- Increase recreational bag limitsto 2 fish per person and 6 per boat, still a 33% reduction from pre-2023 levels, balancing sustainability with access for recreational fishers.
- Remove southern seasonal closuressouth of latitude 22˚S due to lack of scientific evidence for spawning events, noting closures coincide with peak tourism and may displace fishing effort.
- Fund targeted research in collaboration with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation to better understand northern Spanish Mackerel aggregation and breeding to inform future closures.
The association also raises concerns about the reliability of recreational fishing data and calls for improved measurement systems to inform sustainable policy.
AFTA remains committed to collaborative, science-based fisheries management and calls for equitable resource sharing that reflects the recreational sector’s economic and social value.
Media Contact:
The Hon Bob Baldwin
Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA)
Email: bobbaldwin@afta.net.au
Ph: 0419 694620
Website: www.afta.net.au