Inshore multi-species fisheries face a range of ecological, economic and social challenges. In the case of QLD’s East Coast Inshore Net Fishery, the phase out of gillnets in Reef waters requires a transition to maintain the supply of good-eating, local seafood caught in this fishery, and the livelihoods of these fishers.
A research project led by QLD DPI (funded by FRDC) - The Fish-LIGHT program – is trialling and evaluating a range of innovative and alternative low-impact harvest technologies (fishing gears) to support this transition. Technical, ecological and economic data on how different gears perform is being collected.
But responsible innovation in future-facing fisheries requires there to be evaluation of how gear performance will affect local seafood consumers and inshore recreational fishers, as well as regional communities more generally.
The Fish-LIGHT Community Intercept Survey was undertaken at over 80 boat ramps and food venues selling local fish across Queensland’s east coast. This face-to-face survey method was used in combination with an online panel survey of the East Coast Community to ensure the views of everyday Queenslanders were captured.
The findings highlight a high level of support for local seafood supply from the Reef – and specifically for wild-caught fish - from recreational fishers, general community members and seafood consumers alike. The majority of recreational fishers and consumers were positive about gear transitions for inshore net fishers if they were highly targeted, regulated to minimise bycatch and TEPS interactions, and spatially managed to prevent overlap with high-value recreational fishing areas.