Fishing closures, restrictions and permits

Fisheries rules

Our State's fisheries are a community-owned resource. We all have a responsibility to protect and safeguard this natural asset for present and future generations. There are comprehensive laws designed to ensure that fishing activities remain sustainable, and that biological diversity is protected.

Local NSW Fisheries Offices maintain a comprehensive list of local fisheries rules and actively advises the public about these. It is important that it is understood that the information provided on this website only provides some of the controls that people need to abide by in respect to their fishing and other activities related to our aquatic resources. The local NSW Fisheries Office should be contacted for the most comprehensive advice on activities that are being contemplated in an area.

Recreational fishers need to be aware of the fishing rules and regulations that apply to recreational fishing such as bag & size limits, methods, the use of traps and nets and other regulations.

The department has a role in enforcing the following laws regarding recreational and commercial fishing.

Fishing closures

Recreational saltwater closures

• Location closures
• General closures
• Spearfishing closures

Recreational freshwater closures

• Summary of fishing closures for major freshwater fish species
• General freshwater fishing closures
• List of trout waters
• Pooncarie Weir fishing closure (section 8 order) (PDF, 60K)

Commercial closures

• Commercial fishing closures
• Mulloway closure
• Open for commercial fishing industry comment-Commercial fishing closures

Aquaculture closures

• QX Disease quarantine order

Species closures

• Threatened species
• Protected fish species

Marine protected areas

• Intertidal Protected Areas
• Aquatic Reserves
• NSW Marine Parks
• Commonwealth Marine Protected Areas

Other relevant closures

• Little Penguin Critical Habitat - Sydney North Harbour
• New South Wales submarine cable protection zones
• Japanese Midget Sub - Heritage Order
• Declared diseases and quarantine orders
• Caulerpa taxifolia Section 8 closures
• Public register - Ministerial orders in force

Permits and Orders

Legislation

• Discard Chute Guidelines
• Ocean Trawl Bycatch Reduction Devices
• Estuary Prawn Trawl Bycatch Reduction Devices
• Trawl whiting and school prawn grounds
• Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38

Importation Orders

• Aquaculture Importation (White spot disease of crustaceans) Order