With concerns raised by constituents about the use of opera house yabby traps in Queensland waters, and their impacts on air-breathing aquatic wildlife such as long-necked turtles and platypus, we asked the Minister for Primary Industries whether Queensland would consider banning or restricting their use, noting that every other Australian state and territory has already taken action.
The Minister included in his response the information below as outlined in italics, advising that Queensland has already introduced several regulations around opera house nets and is currently reviewing feedback from a 2024 discussion paper, Recreational Fishing in Queensland: Consultation on Fishery Reforms, that examined the potential phase-out of these traps in Queensland waters.
As identified in your correspondence, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory have all moved to prohibit the use of opera house style traps in recent years. Unlike these states, Queensland has an active redclaw crayfish recreational fishing sector, which is popular with the touring and fishing public. As you may be aware, new regulations controlling the physical dimensions of freshwater trap openings and new spatial restrictions governing their use were introduced in 2015 to reduce the incidence of bycatch of air breathing animals in Queensland’s impoundments, rivers, and streams.
Fisheries Queensland released a discussion paper in 2024 to explore the possibility of phasing out the use of opera house traps in Queensland waters. A consultation report based on the feedback received has been published on the department’s website at: https://dpi.engagementhub.com.au/recreational-fishing.
Fisheries Queensland is currently reviewing the feedback provided in relation to the 2024 consultation report. As part of this process, the Freshwater Working Group will soon meet to consider any recommendations regarding this matter and provide its advice to the Department of Primary Industries prior to further consideration by the Queensland Government.
We will continue to monitor this matter and update as further information becomes available.
Further information
To view the Recreational Fishing in Queensland: Consultation on Fishery Reforms discussion paper, please visit https://afta.net.au/wp-content/uploads/FINALRecreationalfisheryDiscussionpaperMarch-2024-final_1710371923.pdf
To advocate directly to the Minister for Primary Industries, please email primaryindustries@ministerial.qld.gov.au and copy our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au