The Great Sandy Marine Park covers approximately 6,200km² of tidal lands and waters stretching from Baffle Creek in the north to Double Island Point in the south. It includes Hervey Bay, Great Sandy Strait, Tin Can Inlet and the waters off the World Heritage-listed K'gari (Fraser Island) seaward to three nautical miles.

Through the Marine Parks (Great Sandy) Zoning Plan 2024, the Great Sandy Marine Park aims to:

• protect and conserve, ecosystems, habitats, populations of marine species and genetic biodiversity, including internationally recognised wetlands and threatened species
• provide opportunities and access for ecologically sustainable use of the area including recreational, commercial, research and traditional activities.
• The park has four different zones and eleven types of designated areas, classified according to the natural and/or cultural values of each area, with regulations covering recreational and commercial use.

Marine park zones

How is the marine park managed?

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages the marine park. Management activities include:

• conducting public education and interpretation
• monitoring critical flora and fauna
• encouraging and supporting scientific research
• undertaking assessments of various activities to occur in the marine park
• installation and maintenance of artificial reefs
• undertaking compliance and enforcement activities.

What can I do in a marine national park (green) zone?

Marine national park zones, commonly referred to as green zones, are ‘no take’ areas.

• They provide for protection of the natural integrity and values of the marine environment.
• Marine plants, animals or other resources cannot be removed from these zones.
• Low impact activities such as swimming, snorkelling, diving and boating are allowed.
• Travelling through a green zone with fish on board is permitted provided the fish were caught outside this zone.
• All fishing or collecting equipment must be stowed or secured prior to entering a green zone.
  Fishing or collecting equipment must be rendered inoperative and stored inboard the vessel so that equipment can not immediately be used for fishing or collecting.
• Examples of equipment that is inoperative:
  • equipment that is not baited
  • equipment that is not being held by a person
  • equipment that is not in the water
  • equipment that is unloaded.
• While a hook can still be attached to a line, it should be secured to the hand-line or rod.

Why is there no longer a buffer zone in the Great Sandy Marine Park?

The marine national park (green) zone at Wolf Rock, put in place to protect endangered grey nurse sharks and their habitat, has been expanded and the buffer zone that surrounded the original green zone, removed. This buffer zone was the only one in the Great Sandy Marine Park. The removal of the buffer zone, and with it the ability to troll in areas used by these sharks in the vicinity of Wolf Rock, will address risks of injury and mortality caused by fishing.

How can I find out where the different zones are?

To access and understand zoning locations and rules, you can :

• Download the free Marine Parks Southern Queensland app or QLD Fishing 2.0 app
• Download PDF maps
• Access and download spatial data.

For more information visit Using the marine park app and maps.

Is spearfishing allowed in the marine park?

Limited spearfishing (by snorkel only) is allowed in all zones except the marine national park (green) zone. Remember you must comply with the regulations or conditions placed upon spearfishing by the Fisheries Act 1994 and Regulation.

Is shore based line fishing or spearfishing allowed at Burkitts Reef and Hoffmans Rocks?

Burkitts Reef

• Spearfishing and line fishing are allowed in the area to the west of the marine national park (green) zone, i.e. between HAT* and the inshore boundary of the green zone.
• Now defined by a series of coordinates, the green zone at Burkitts Reef starts approximately 65m to 130m seaward from HAT and extends to the east.

Hoffmans Rocks

• Spearfishing and line fishing are allowed at Hoffmans Rocks in the yellow zone adjacent to Nudibranch Park which is south of the new boundary of the marine national park (green) zone, in keeping with the general rules for fishing in a conservation park (yellow) zone.

* HAT is the highest level of tide which can be predicted to occur under average weather and tidal conditions.

Visit maps and resources to familiarise yourself with further information about the locations of these zones.

I’m a recreational fisher. How many lines and hooks can I use in the different zones?

The marine park places no additional restrictions relating to line fishing in general use and habitat protection zones, to those restrictions in place under the fisheries legislation. Therefore, the restriction under the fisheries legislation that allows a maximum of 3 hand-held lines/rods per person and a maximum of 6 hooks/lures, apply in the marine park’s general use and habitat protection zones.

Conservation park (yellow) zones encompass significant marine environmental values in the marine park, where extractive use is limited. 15.7% of the marine park is protected in yellow zone, including Baffle Creek, Elliott River, parts of the Burrum River system, Great Sandy Strait, Tin Can Inlet and many smaller waterways along the mainland and K’gari coastline. Up to two hand-held lines/rods per person and a maximum of two hooks/lures may be used when line fishing in the marine park’s yellow zones. This requirement matches Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Restrictions on the number of lines and hooks are the same for both recreational and commercial line fishing in the marine park.

Fishing is prohibited in marine national park (green) zones.

View the list of the activities allowed in the different marine park zones.

All fishing activities must also comply with the restrictions or conditions placed upon them by the Fisheries Act 1994 and associated regulations, e.g. apparatus, bag and size limits.

What is the definition of a hook?

A hook includes:

• a single-shanked hook
• a single-shanked double or treble hook
• an artificial lure with no more than 3 hooks attached to it
• an artificial fly
• a jig for taking squid
• a ganged hook set of not more than 6 hooks
• a bait jig that is a hook or group of not more than 6 hooks if each hook is between number 1 and number 12 size or equivalent
• a bait jig is a hook or group of hooks, of not more than 6 hooks, of a size between number 1 and 12 inclusively or an equivalent size.

Designated areas

What is the purpose of a go slow area?

• There are two types of go slow areas in the marine park – go slow areas that protect turtles and dugong from disturbance, injury or death caused by boats, and go slow areas that protect natural and cultural resources from the impacts of boat wash and noise.
• The rules for all go slow areas are the same.
• Vessels must not navigate on the plane in go slow areas.
• Vessels must not navigate at a speed greater than 6 knots.
• Vessels must not engage in motorised water sport activities, such as driving in a circular pattern, weaving, surfing across waves, waterskiing, tubing, parasailing.
• The rules do not apply in marked navigational channels and transit lanes at Poona and Kauri creeks and at Tinnanbar.

How will I know when my vessel is 'on the plane'?

The speed at which each vessel is ‘on the plane’ varies, but as a guide,

• a vessel is ‘on the plane’ when it is at a speed that allows the hull to travel over the top of the water rather than pushing through it.

Why can’t I enter a ‘seasonal shorebird closure area’?

• Migratory shorebirds arrive on our shores early in summer and stay to the following autumn to roost, feed and replenish energy reserves for their return migration to the northern hemisphere.
• The marine park’s 4 most important shorebird roost sites at Moon Point, Maaroom, Boonooroo and Cooloola are designated seasonal shorebird closure areas.
• The closure areas apply from 1 September to 31 October (when birds arrive in the marine park depleted in energy from their migration) and between 1 March to 30 April (when birds need to gain weight for their return journey to the northern hemisphere to breed).
• During these times, public access and domestic animals are prohibited, so that shorebirds are not disturbed and are given the best chances of survival.
• Disturbing roosting shorebirds causes them to take flight, wasting valuable energy reserves that are critical for a successful return migration to the northern hemisphere.
• Outside of the seasonal closure area times and throughout the marine park, general rules apply to protect shorebirds from disturbance by people, vehicles, aircraft and domestic animals.

What rules are in place to protect shorebirds from disturbance by domestic animals?

It is recommended that pets are kept at home or aboard your boat. Domestic animals are prohibited from chasing or harassing shorebirds or running and walking through a group of feeding or roosting shorebirds. Disturbing shorebirds, causes them to take flight, wasting critical energy reserves needed to complete their migration successfully.

Are there any seasonal rules in place in Great Sandy Marine Park?

Yes

Marine turtle seasonal management provisions

Mon Repos area

• Foreshore entry and use restrictions apply from 15 October to 31 May of the next year, including no domestic animals in the area at any time, and no public access on the beach from 6pm-6am (unless part of an authorised turtle tour)

Turtle protection area

• Trawling is prohibited from 1 November to 31 January the next year. The turtle protection area extends out to approximately 5km off the beach at Mon Repos.

Seasonal go slow area

• Applies from 15 October to 30 April each year along the Woongarra Coast (from Elliott Heads to Burnett Heads)—extends 300m from shore (permission may be granted for authorised surf life-saving activities to be exempt from go slow area rules)

Shorebird seasonal management provisions

Seasonal shorebird closure areas

• Public access and domestic animals are prohibited between 1 September to 31 October and between 1 March to 30 April at 4 specific locations (Moon Point, Maaroom, Boonooroo and Cooloola).

Visit maps and resources for more information regarding the locations of the marine park’s designated areas.

Can I take my vessel into the Platypus Bay Area?

Yes. Vessels can navigate (and anchor) within the Platypus Bay area as long as they are not being used to undertake motorised water sports. Motorised water sports (e.g. driving in a circular pattern, weaving, surfing across waves, waterskiing, parasailing), and the taking-off and landing in an aircraft or helicopter, is prohibited in the Platypus Bay Area. Remotely piloted aircraft are allowed. The rules allow for the appreciation and enjoyment of the natural integrity of the area and maintain its remote natural values as the most remote inshore area of the marine park. It is adjacent to the Great Sandy National Park, includes part of the K’gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area, and is a critical resting area for several whale species on their migration from and to Antarctica.

Can I take my motorised sailing boat into a No-Motorised Vessel area?

As long as the sailing boat is not being propelled by a motor at the time (i.e. it is under sail) then a sailing boat that has a motor can be navigated through the No-Motorised Vessel area. Prohibiting the use of motorised vessels in these areas aims to reduce the risk of noise disturbing cultural practices as well as mitigate the potential impacts of vessel wash on culturally significant sites such as middens.

How can I find out where the designated areas are?

To access and understand designated area locations and rules, you can:

• Download the Marine Parks Southern Queensland app or QLD Fishing 2.0 app
• Download PDF maps
• Access and download spatial data.

For more information visit Using the marine park app and maps.

Collecting

What does ‘limited collecting’ mean?

Limited collecting means collecting by hand or using a hand-held implement that is not motorised, or pneumatically or hydraulically operated.

• A restrictions list applies—see ‘Restricted and excluded animals for fishing and collecting’ (Schedule 5 of the zoning plan. You can take (and have in your possession) no more than 2 specimens of the same species and no more than 5 specimens from this restrictions list).
• Limited collecting is allowed in all zones except marine national park (green) zones.
• Any collecting that does not fall under this definition requires a permit and can only be conducted in habitat protection (dark blue) zones and general use (light blue) zones.

Can I collect coral when I am visiting the Great Sandy Marine Park?

No. The collection of coral for personal use, such as in home aquariums, is prohibited.

Anchoring

How long can I anchor in one place?

• Where there are no approved moorings, anchoring limits apply to prevent damage to seagrass, coral, and bottom-dwelling animals, and to manage pollution and vessel numbers.
• You must not anchor for more than 14 consecutive days or more than 30 days in any 60 day period, in the same place without a permit.

My vessel is aground, tied to a tree or tied to an old unapproved jetty – is it still considered to be anchored?

Yes. Anchoring refers to securing your vessel (or aircraft) to any thing other than an approved mooring or a lawful structure. Therefore, a vessel that is grounded, tied to anything other than an approved mooring or lawful structure, or is secured in place with an anchor and associated chain or rope, is considered to be anchored. This means that the rules in relation to the length of time a vessel or aircraft can remain anchored in a particular place in the zone without permission, apply. A permit is required if your vessel will be anchored for more than 14 consecutive days or more than 30 days in any 60 day period.

Commercial fishing

How are commercial fisheries managed within the marine park?

All use of the marine park, whether commercial or recreational, is managed under the ‘entry or use provisions’ of the Great Sandy Marine Park zones and designated areas. In relation to commercial fishing:

• Commercial trawling is only permitted in the general use zones.
• Commercial large mesh gill netting is permitted in general use zones and habitat protection zones (except at Dayman Spit, in the Cherwell River and upstream reaches of the Burrum River, where only small mesh bait nets can be used).
• Commercial line fishing is permitted in general use zones, habitat protection zones and conservation park zones (additional restrictions apply to the numbers of lines and hooks that can be used in conservation park zones).
• Commercial crabbing is permitted in general use zones and habitat protection zones. In the conservation park zone in Baffle Creek, Elliott River, Burrum River system, Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Inlet, commercial quantities of crab pots may be used as a non-conforming use.
• Commercial tunnel netting and set pocket (stripe) netting can occur as a non-conforming use in the conservation park zone in the Great Sandy Strait / Tin Can Inlet and Mary River respectively.
• Commercial bait netting under the N11 fishery symbol is permitted in general use zones and habitat protection zones.
• Commercial bait netting is also permitted in conservation park zones, except for the taking of bream, flathead or whiting. To note, additional restrictions apply under the provisions Schedule 4, Div 2, Section 117 (1) of the Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019.
• The commercial ocean beach fishery can only be conducted in general use zones and habitat protection zones and in a small part of the conservation park zone at Hook Point and Inskip Point as a non-conforming use.
• Commercial coral collection can only be undertaken in part of the Big Woody Island marine national park zone (as a non-conforming use).
• The commercial collection of marine aquarium fish can occur in all zones with permission except marine national park zones. There is one exception to this – if certain requirements are met, commercial fishers can collect marine aquarium fish from the Little Woody Island marine national park zone as a non-conforming use.

Can commercial fishing vessels navigate on the plane in go slow areas?

No. All marine park users must navigate ‘off the plane’ in go slow areas and at a speed of less than 6 knots, unless they are responding to an emergency.

I’m a native title holder. Can I fish and hunt in the marine park?

Section 211 of the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993 provides for native title holders and the exercise of native title rights. In the marine park, native title holders are free to undertake traditional hunting, fishing, gathering, and partake in cultural or spiritual activities, for the purpose of satisfying their personal, domestic or non-commercial communal needs and in the exercise or enjoyment of their native title rights and interests.