Spanish mackerel: Compensation unlikely ahead of new North Qld season closures

Compensation for those hit hardest by Qld’s new Spanish mackerel restrictions remains unlikely as northern fishos brace for seasonal closures to begin in October. Here’s how it will impact Townsville.

COMPENSATION for those hit hardest by the Qld’s new Spanish mackerel restrictions remains unlikely as northern fishos brace for seasonal closures to begin in October.

Queensland Fisheries is considering cutting back catch quotas for recreational and commercial fishers after Spanish mackerel stocks reportedly dropped to 17 per cent of original unwished levels, a figure many fishermen dispute.

The department is also considering introducing closed seasons in NQ for either six weeks or 12 weeks starting this October, with a final decision being made after the public consultation process ends on Friday, August 5.

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner claimed the dire state of the east-coast Spanish mackerel population was the result of “overfishing” during budget estimates this week.

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner was grilled about forthcoming cuts to Spanish mackerel catch quotas during budget estimates.

He also shrugged off the possibility of offering compensation to commercial fishers who may be impacted by any forthcoming restrictions.

“On determining whether compensation should be paid or not be paid, my understanding is that, because this matter is as a result of the overfished status of the species, financial compensation is not payable under the legislation,” he said.

Traeger MP Robbie Katter has called on Mr Furner to apologise for his remark about overfishing, insisting the commercial fishing sector has complied with Fisheries Queensland’s quotas since 2005.

“The quota for Spanish mackerel was introduced in 2004-05 with a 619-tonne commercial limit – it has been slightly reduced since then, and the quota has never been reached, let alone exceeded,” Mr Katter said.

“Queensland’s commercial sector has only ever caught about 50 per cent of the quota allocated to them, so whatever has gone wrong with this fishery is not on them.”

Traeger MP Robbie Katter during budget estimates in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

“As recently as 2016, the fishery was deemed as healthy, and the quota for the commercial sector and the bag limits for the recreational sector were deemed suitable by Fisheries Queensland – but since 2020, it has been panic stations.

“If overfishing has occurred as the Minister has claimed, it has occurred under the direction of the Government who have fundamentally mismanaged the fishery or have failed to recognise the impacts of factors such as illegal fishing, shark predation and changes in species behaviour.”

Responding to Mr Katter’s remarks, Minister Furner said he made “no apologies for using improved science and better data to assess stock levels”.

“Rejecting the science will not protect fishing jobs,” he said.

“Rebuilding the stocks will ensure we have sustainable fish stocks for our children and grandchildren.”

Originally published as Spanish mackerel: Compensation unlikely ahead of new North Qld season closures