Overview of commercial trawl fisheries

Trawl fisheries are Queensland's largest commercial fisheries.

There are 2 basic types of trawling: otter trawling and beam trawling. The otter trawl fishery, which operates in more open waters, is by far the larger, accounting for about 95% of the total harvest taken each year. Beam trawlers are used in estuaries.

Queensland has 4 main trawl fisheries:

• the east coast otter trawl fishery
• the Moreton Bay otter trawl fishery
• the river and inshore beam trawl fishery
• the fin fish (stout whiting) trawl fishery.

This guide gives an overview of Queensland's commercial trawl fisheries, including management areas, target species, gear used, licensing and regulations.