Easter Blue Groper - Now Protected for Another 3 Years
Eastern Blue Groper fishing ban extended for a further three years
The much beloved Blue Groper has received continuing protection from fishing of any sort for the next three years, following an initial 12-month trial.
The NSW Government on 28 February 2028 announced that the State’s Fish, the Eastern Blue groper, will continue to be protected following scientific advice and community feedback commencing from 1 March 2025.
This ban extension regarding line fishing combines with the long-term existing prohibition on spearfishing and commercial fishing of the Eastern Blue Groper to enable further research and monitoring of the species for the next three years.
NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said: “NSW’s State Fish, the Eastern Blue Groper, will continue being protected after the Government considered a range of advice, community feedback and scientific research.
“Three further years of scientific monitoring will deliver a deeper level of understanding of how this wonderful fish is coping with warming conditions and what impact those conditions are having on the population, particularly in our inshore waters where people interact with the Eastern Blue Groper.
“I know some fishers will be disappointed, but I also know there are many in the NSW community, including fishers, who want this State Fish protected and that is what the Government is doing.”
James Sherwood from the Australian Marine Conservation Society said the extension of the ban was a "great first step" and said it would give the government sufficient time to commission research and create a monitoring program.
Explainer:
Why is the Eastern Blue Groper a ‘no take’ species?
The Eastern Blue Groper has several biological characteristics that make them prone to overfishing. They are a long-lived, slow growing species that tend to live in small social groups or 'harems' comprised of one blue male, some mature females (brown or red in colour) and several juveniles (brown or green in colour) that do not travel large distances and often live in one site. Consequently, these characteristics means that they are susceptible to targeted fishing and would likely take decades to recover the population.
What will be the penalties for taking Blue Groper in NSW?
Anyone caught contravening the closure and taking Eastern Blue Groper in NSW by any method will face a $500 penalty infringement notice and/or a maximum court-imposed fines of $22,000 or imprisonment for 6 months (or both) for a first offence and $44,000 or imprisonment for 12 months (or both) for a second or subsequent offence.
Any Eastern Blue Groper incidentally caught while line fishing must be released.
Given the cultural significance of the species to Aboriginal people the new changes will not apply to Aboriginal cultural fishing.
