Trochus fishery

The fishery area consists of all tidal waters south of latitude 10°41'S, and east of longitude 142°31'49"E. In practice, fishing rarely occurs south of Gladstone. Mackay is the main port for the fishery.

The fishery operates under the fishery symbol J1.

Target species

The commercial trochus fishery is based on the collection of 1 species of trochus – Trochus niloticus.

Fishing gear

Trochus are commercially harvested by hand using underwater breathing apparatus (hookah or scuba) and non-mechanical handheld implements.

Management arrangements

• The fishery has limited entry:
  • 6 licences with J1 symbol.
• Fishers must have a primary commercial fishing licence and a J1 symbol to operate in the fishery.
• The person in charge of an operation must hold a commercial fisher licence to operate under a primary commercial fishing licence.
• There is a total allowable commercial catch and individual transferable quota units are allocated to each licence.
• The licence holder or nominee and up to 10 divers can operate under a licence at any one time.
• Fishers can use 1 primary boat plus up to 4 other boats (tender boats).
• Trochus minimum size limit is 8cm (across widest part of opening).
• Trochus maximum size limit is 12.5cm (across widest part of opening).

Reporting and monitoring

Commercial fishers must comply with a number of reporting requirements.

In summary, fishers must:

• report trip/catch notices through the Qld eFisher commercial fishing app or the Automated Integrated Voice Response system
• complete compulsory daily logbooks – catch and effort plus threatened, endangered and protected animals
• keep sale dockets for all wholesale sales for 5 years, including to businesses involved in the processing and storage of fisheries resources.

Commercial fishers must also have vessel tracking on their boats to monitor compliance with regulations.

Also consider...

• Refer to fisheries legislation for up to date details about the fishery.
• Learn how fishers must also comply with state marine park and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning rules.
• View the Queensland fisheries summary report.
• Read the economic and social data reports.