Background
Economically viable fishing businesses are the cornerstone of productive, sustainable fisheries. In 2023 the Queensland and Australian governments announced the phaseout of gillnets across the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and adjacent areas, with a commitment to introduce alternative gear by July 2027. This study conducted a breakeven point analysis for four alternative gears to gillnets trialled under the Fish-LIGHT program (tunnel nets, trap nets, fish traps, and inshore line fishing) assessing different future fishing scenarios and comparing these breakeven points against existing trial catch data.
Methods
Existing cost structures were elicited from gillnet and inshore line operations through economic surveys, followed by the development of a breakeven point model. This model, with inputs from economic surveys, was used to calculate the daily revenue required to cover variable, overhead, capital, and wage costs across diverse future fishing scenarios.
Results and outcomes
Key results demonstrate that the transition to temporary gillnet symbols (NX) has already resulted in significant individual business impacts, with average effort and catch reductions of 49.7% and 47.6%, respectively. Whilst breakeven points greatly varied depending on the fishing scenario, catch data suggests tunnel nets are the most economically viable alternative gear; despite high capital and crew requirements (some 6-hour shots were worth more than $10,000). Trap nets also showed potential, though current experimental catch rates must improve through gear refinement and increased operator experience. Inshore line gear is highly effective as a "value-add" to existing operations (where it can offset costs against other activities) or as a remote seasonal fishery in areas with less exploited biomass. Alternate fishing gears are critical to support an ongoing, economically viable fishery in Queensland, but demonstration of the economic viability for each gear type is essential to drive extensive uptake.