Barramundi Gill Net Buyback
During the meeting with Hon. Gerard Maley MLA, Northern Territory Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in Darwin he confirmed that the Government remains committed to phasing out the 14 commercial barramundi gill net licences. While the policy direction is now settled, the structural adjustment program is still being finalised and has not yet been implemented.
Key milestones are as follows:
- In 2024, the Northern Territory Government announced its commitment to phase out commercial barramundi gillnet fishing.
- During 2025–26, a Fishery Adjustment Committee was established to develop the structural adjustment (buyback) package, while a Barramundi Fishery Advisory Group has been tasked with developing the long-term management framework that will replace gillnet fishing.
- The final commercial barramundi gillnet season is scheduled to operate from 1 February to 30 September 2027.
Subject to final Government approval, the buyback program is expected to commence on 1 July 2027, with the complete removal of commercial barramundi gillnets from 1 January 2028.
Current work is focused on finalising compensation arrangements for affected licence holders, evaluating alternative fishing methods, consulting with commercial, recreational and Aboriginal stakeholders, and developing the long-term management framework for a gillnet-free barramundi fishery.
The Minister acknowledged that, while the policy has received strong support from the recreational fishing sector and many conservation organisations, concerns remain regarding the timeframe for implementation and the need for greater certainty around compensation for affected operators. The Government’s position is that the structural adjustment process must be completed alongside the development of a sustainable replacement management framework to ensure the ongoing economic viability of the commercial barramundi fishery.
Overall, the Government remains on track to deliver a gillnet-free commercial barramundi fishery from 1 January 2028, with the buyback program expected to be implemented during 2027.