A study by the James Cook University and PhD student April Boaden has been published this week, reporting on the disproportionate numbers of predators and prey in the non-green zones of the Great Barrier Reef.

Fewer predators, means more prey live to swim another day, which is not exactly ideal for fragile habitats like the Great Barrier Reef which need diversity in fish species to remain resilient to changes. Species like Coral Trout, Snapper and Emperor Fish provide such diversity but as you know as a recreational angler, these are the fish that you want to catch on the reef!

“The removal of species at the top of a reef's food chain not only threatens its natural balance but adds to a host of human-inflicted challenges for the precious marine environments. We know we can mitigate it through zoned reserves. It's something we know how to do.” Says author of the research paper, April Boaden.

For us as anglers, that means more green zones, less places to fish. It’s of course unlikely that green zones will simply be moved to provide the same access to reef fish, instead the existing green zones will be expanded and eventually cover the entire reef. The only way to slow the process, is by sticking to bag limits and practicing good catch-and-release techniques when you’re out on the water. If recreational anglers don’t adhere to the QLD guidelines, fishing on the reef might be over before we know it!

You can read the whole report in this months Ecosphere Journal, or if you’re more interested in catching these fish, head over to the QLD Department of Fisheries website and refresh your memory on the bag and size limits for the reef species.

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