WFS Admin
Tasmanian fishing news briefs for 2025 …
1. Dry Weather
Tasmania has been hit by ongoing dry weather with a six-month anomaly to July 2025 on the once notoriously wet West Coast of more than -500mm in some areas. The lack of rain affects the trout fishery. Recreational fishers have also complained on social media of huge numbers of cormorants, which predate on trout. Cormorant numbers are cyclical, reaching plague proportions some years. Fishos have called for a cull of the birds, which are currently protected.
3. Iconic Bigeye Tuna Catch
Teenager Jet Worsteling landed an 85kg bigeye tuna off east coast hotspot St Helens, believed to be a state record.
3. Better Fishing Grants Roll Out
January saw Round 5 of the Better Fishing Grants program opened, offered cash for infrastructure and community programs supporting shore-based sea fishing. Projects included Naracoopa Jetty (King Island), Penguin Jetty, Devoi’t & Bonnies Beach pontoons, monitoring FADs, and safety upgrades to Barnes Bay and more.
4. Scallop Catch-Sharing Introduced
From April 9, recreational fishers could share scallop catches legally aboard boats, with a 250 scallop boat limit, reflecting reforms to the Scallop Management Plan.
4. 2025 Recreational Sea Fishing Guide in Effect
The current guide was to be valid to Oct 31, 2025, and included mandatory rock lobster tail‑mark catch reporting after dive or gear checking, and on‑water bag possession limits for sand flathead, and seasonal squid closures.
5. Technology & Research at Agfest
In February 2025 the Agfest Fishing Hub featured AI monitoring tools for scalefish, and species recognition initiatives. Community sessions were held on sardine fishery proposals and stock assessments.
6. Political Debate Over Fisheries Management
In June Independent candidate Peter George advocated for mandatory catch logs (including discards) and higher biomass sustainability thresholds (≥ 50%) drawing criticism from Minister Abetz and peak fishing bodies.
7. Sardine Fishery Developments
Discovery of a 210,000 tonne stock in south-east waters rekindled interest in a commercial sardine fishery. Recreational fishers have not generally welcome any planned harvest as baitfish are a key part of the ecosystem.
8. No‑Go Marine Zones Controversy
Federal marine park rezoning introduced new “no-take” marine areas off Tasmania, impacting the taking of key species such as rock lobster and gummy shark, which stirred opposition from recreational and commercial fishers.