The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has updated the Booderee National Park Management Plan 2015–2025 for Jervis Bay ACT, which has now reached the end of its term.
The government has released the draft Booderee National Park Management Plan 2026–2036 and is inviting public feedback.
Summary of AFTA’s Review of Recreational Fishing Documents
AFTA has completed its review of both documents relating to recreational fishing. The key implications identified for recreational fishers are:
- Bowen Island: Expansion of the existing closure zone from 100 m to 200 m.
- Scottish Rocks: Introduction of a new 500 m exclusion zone.
These changes represent increased spatial restrictions for recreational fishing activity in the affected areas.
You can review the previous plan here: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/booderee-management-plan-2015-2025-web.pdf
The draft 2026–2036 plan and consultation page are available at: https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/booderee-national-park-management-plan-2026-36
Feedback can be submitted through the Departments Have Your Say portal, with submissions closing on 7 April 2026. To provide comments, please visit: https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/
Below are the relevant sections from each plan for your information.
Management Plan 2015-2025 (Page 102)
7.8 Recreational fishing and collecting activities Aim
- Ensure sustainable use and conservation of the park’s marine environment. Background
The zoning scheme established by the first plan provided for a small sanctuary zone near Bowen Island and for recreational fishing in the remainder of the park’s marine component, with restrictions as to species, fishing methods, catch size and numbers similar to those applying in NSW waters. These zoning arrangements, together with a long-standing policy prohibiting the possession and use of spearguns and handspears in the park, have been maintained.
Both the park and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community would like to see recreational activities that preserve and provide for the appreciation of the cultural, natural and recreational values of Booderee’s marine environment.
The park will expand its research and monitoring programs to evaluate the effectiveness of current management arrangements for conserving marine biodiversity. Findings will inform management decisions relating to fishing practices in the park (see Section 6.5, Marine).
Killing, injuring, taking, trading, keeping or moving native species in the park is prohibited by ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act except in accordance with this management plan.
Regulation 12.35 of the EPBC Regulations (which operates subject to ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act and this management plan) provides for recreational fishing subject to a number of specified restrictions and to determinations made by the Director. The determinations under r.12.35(3) may be guided by restrictions which apply in adjacent NSW waters.
Regulation 12.18 prohibits the use of spearguns in Commonwealth reserves and other weapons and devices, including any device that can be used, or is designed, for taking an animal other than a hook and a line for catching a fish or a hand-held net designed to land a fish caught on a hook and a line.
Regulation 12.23A enables the Director to prohibit or restrict an activity or a class of activities and r.12.23 enables the Director to prohibit or restrict access to all or part of a Commonwealth reserve.
Issues
- Illegal fishing needs to be policed and prevented.
- Effective biodiversity conservation is a priority.
- Better understanding is needed of the ecological and social impacts of fishing and collecting activities.
- There are public safety issues associated with rock fishing.
Prescriptions
Policies
7.8.1 Recreational fishing for fin fish and squid may be undertaken in the park:
(a) at the commencement of this plan, in the manner provided for by a valid permit or licence held by the fisher to fish in the NSW waters adjacent to the park, and
(b) subject to the following policies and actions, and
(c) in accordance with determinations made by the Director under r.12.35 of the EPBC Regulations.
Determinations under r.12.35 may be guided by restrictions that apply in adjacent NSW waters
7.8.2 The Taking of marine organisms from park waters is prohibited, with the exceptions of fin fish (except species listed under the EPBC Act) and squid.
7.8.3 Recreational fishing may be restricted in the park in the light of scientific research and environmental monitoring programs, the views of parks users and/or the effectiveness of management arrangements. See also Sections 3.1.9 and 6.5.6.
7.8.4 The only bait which will be allowed for use in recreational fishing is fin fish or squid or parts of fin fish or squid caught with a fishing line or rod and/or commercially supplied bait. Commercially supplied bait may be transported through the park.
7.8.5 Use or possession of spearguns and handspears in the park will not be allowed.
7.8.6 Nets will not be allowed for fishing in park waters. The only allowable equipment for fishing is either a handline or a rod and line. As provided in r.12.18(6) of the EPBC Regulations prawning nets may be taken through the park to be used lawfully to take prawns in adjacent NSW waters.
7.8.7 Fish and other marine organisms taken lawfully in NSW waters may be transported through the park.
7.8.8 The cleaning of fish, including gutting, scaling and trimming of carcasses, will not be allowed in the park unless special facilities for this purpose are provided.
7.8.9 Fishing competitions will not be allowed in the park. This includes fishing in park waters in a competition arranged outside the park and all activities associated with a fishing competition, other than boat launching and retrieval at Murrays Beach boat ramp.
7.8.10 Access for rock fishing will be restricted to sites that form part of the designated system of walking tracks.
7.8.11 Commercial fishing and associated activities, such as access through the park for commercial fishing, are not allowed in the park (see Section 7.10, Other Commercial Activities).
Actions
7.8.12 Change fishing restrictions if a negative impact of recreational fishing on ecosystem function is observed.
7.8.13 Maintain a safety buoy at Moes Rock, Stoney Creek. and other appropriate areas deemed appropriate by the Board.
Management Plan 2026-2036 (Page 76)
3.13 Fishing and take of other marine organisms
Killing, injuring, taking, trading, keeping or moving native species in the park is prohibited by sections 354 and 354A of the EPBC Act except in accordance with a management plan in operation for the park.
Sections 354 and 354A of the EPBC Act also prohibit a person from taking an action for a commercial purpose, unless taken in accordance with a management plan in operation for the park. Regulation 12.34 of the EPBC Regulations prohibits commercial fishing in the park, unless it is in accordance with a management plan in operation for the park.
Regulation 12.35 of the EPBC Regulations provides for recreational fishing subject to a number of specified restrictions, and determinations made by the Director under regulation 12.35(3). Determinations may be guided by restrictions which apply in adjacent NSW waters.
Regulation 12.18 prohibits the use in the park of spearguns and other weapons and devices, including any device that can be used, or is designed, for taking an animal, other than a hook and a line for catching a fish, or a hand-held net designed to land a fish caught on a hook and a line, unless it is provided for by, and carried out in accordance with, a management plan in force for the park.
Regulations 12.23 and 12.23A enable the Director to prohibit or restrict access to areas of the park or an activity or a class of activities in the park.
Prescriptions
Freshwater areas
3.13.1 Fishing and taking of other organisms will not be allowed in freshwater areas of the park unless as part of research activities approved under this Plan (see Section 3.7 Research and monitoring).
Marine areas
3.13.2 Commercial fishing, commercial taking of other marine organisms, and associated activities such as access through the park for commercial fishing, are not allowed in the park.
Note: This includes access through the park, along Bherwerre Beach above the high-water mark, by NSW licensed fishers seeking to carry on commercial fishing activities below high water.
3.13.3 Recreational fishing for fin fish and squid may be undertaken in the park:
-
- in the manner provided for by a valid permit or licence held by the fisher to fish in the NSW waters adjacent to the park, unless a permit or licence is required under Section 3.13.4; and
- subject to the other prescriptions in this section (Section 3.13); and
- in accordance with any determinations made by the Director under regulation 12.35(3) of the EPBC Regulations (which may be guided by restrictions that apply in adjacent NSW waters).
3.13.4 The Director may, with Board approval, require a permit or licence for recreational fishing in the park.
3.13.5 The taking of marine organisms from park waters is not allowed, with the exceptions of squid and fin fish (other than species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act).
3.13.6 Recreational fishing may be restricted in the park if a negative impact on marine values is observed, or if areas of high habitat value or regional significance are identified as requiring additional protection through scientific research and environmental monitoring programs.
3.13.7 The only bait allowed for use in recreational fishing is fin fish or squid or parts of fin fish or squid caught with a fishing line or rod, and/or commercially supplied bait. Commercially supplied bait may be transported through the park.
3.13.8 Use or possession of spearguns and handspears in the park will not be allowed.
3.13.9 Nets will not be allowed for fishing in park waters. The only allowable equipment for fishing is either a handline or a rod and line. As provided in regulation 12.18(6) of the EPBC Regulations, prawning nets may be taken through the park to be used lawfully to take prawns in adjacent NSW waters.
3.13.10 Fish and other marine organisms taken lawfully in NSW waters may be transported through the park.
3.13.11 The cleaning of fish, including gutting, scaling and trimming of carcasses, will not be allowed in the park unless special facilities for this purpose are provided by the Director.
3.13.12 Fishing competitions will not be allowed in the park. This includes fishing in park waters in a competition arranged outside the park and all activities associated with a fishing competition, other than boat launching and retrieval at Murrays Beach boat ramp.
3.13.13 Access for rock fishing will be restricted to sites accessible via tracks available to the public for walking and riding (see Section 3.11 Walking and riding).