To report unlawful fishing in Queensland, please call the 24 hour Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116 (toll free within Queensland)
For general fisheries enquiries, contact the DPI&F Call Centre on 13 25 23 (for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Queensland).
What it's all
about
The Fishwatch
hotline was created so that suspected unlawful
fishing activities can be reported direct to
the
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol by
the general public.
Unlawful activities include:
- unlawful use of nets
- fishing in closed waters
- fishing in closed seasons
- taking female crabs (Jennies)
- taking undersize fish
- taking excess to specified bag limits on fish
- using excess numbers of crab pots/dillies
- destruction or disturbance of marine habitat
- interfering with other persons crab pots/dillies or other fishing apparatus
- taking oysters from licensed oyster grounds
What to do
If you see, or
have any information on unlawful fishing
activities that you suspect are unlawful, you
should follow these simple steps:
- record the date, time and area where the activity occurs
- record any vehicle registration numbers and a description of any vehicles involved
- record any boat registration numbers and a description of any vessels involved
- if you know the person or persons involved, give their details as well
- give an accurate description of the activity involved, e.g. setting large numbers of crab pots, netting the local creek on low tides
- ring the Fishwatch hotline to pass on this information
