"Instead of bans restricting access to recreational fishing, this time the QLD government has imposed regulations that will improve your chances of catching quality fish in Mackay, Rockhampton and Cairns"

'Net-free fishing zones' will now be implemented in three locations along the QLD Coast after being voted in by the State Parliament this week, boosting recreational fishing by increasing numbers in popular fishing spots. The 'Recreational Fishing Havens' as they are known in NSW, are proven to improve fishing conditions for recreational anglers by increasing catch sizes and variety, purely because the same fish aren't been reeled in by commercial fishing news. In addition to local anglers benefiting from the bans on commercial fishing, it is hoped that tourism will also enjoy a much needed boost in Mackay, Rockhampton and Cairns. Already one of the areas key tourist attractions, the State government is actively working to ensure it continues the promotion of the areas great fishing, this new law being one of several proposed improvements for recreational anglers on the cards. There is another side to the story however; commercial fisherman say that the ban will have a significant impact on the areas supply of fresh seafood, with around a quarter of their catch coming from these areas. The Government has considered them though, with $10m set aside in assistance packages to those commercial businesses affected. "25 per cent of my income was derived from where I used to be able to fish in the Rockhampton-Fitzroy area," said commercial fisherman Keith Harris in an interview with ABC Radio. "I have no prospect of being able to replace that income in the net fishery, due to other areas being closed already through previous regulations. So it's just 25 per cent I'm going to have to live without, I guess." With the new laws being implemented on the first of November, time will tell whether they're working to bring in the tourists, or just the fish for recreational anglers!

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