Tasmania regulation

Inland Fisheries Regulations 2019

In ForceTAS

Jurisdiction

Tasmania

Act Number

70 of 2019

Collection

regulation

Plain English Summary

6/10 complexity

These regulations set out detailed, operational rules for inland fishing in Tasmania: they define key terms, specify permitted gear and methods, set species-specific size and daily bag limits, prescribe licence types and fees, and create penalties and infringement notices. They also place obligations on commercial fishers (including daily checks, gear identification and an eel royalty) and give the Director powers to issue tags and refuse licence renewal.

The rules affect recreational and commercial fishers, fish farmers, dealers and licence applicants by changing permitted behaviour, compliance tasks and the cost of fishing (see regs 3, 10, 15, 17, 27, 35, 35A).

JSON API

Deep Dive

6,606 words · generated 25/06/2026

What it does

These regulations set out the detailed operational rules, licence fees, equipment standards, size and bag limits, and offences that govern inland recreational and commercial fishing in Tasmania under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995. Mechanically, the instrument:

Defines key terms used across the regulatory framework, including specific species and places, and technical definitions for equipment and measurement (regulation 3; regulation 4). Definitions include bait, lure, mesh measurement, bank, set rod, whitebait net, fyke net, platypus exclusion screen and named lakes and lagoons (reg 3).
Limits methods of taking fish for recreational fishers to primarily rod and line unless other methods are expressly allowed, and prescribes numerous statutory exceptions and conditions (reg 7(2)-(3); reg 10; reg 21).
Prescribes minimum size limits for particular species, varied by water body (reg 15(2)-(8)), and daily and bag limits that differ by species, water and licence type (reg 16, reg 17 and Schedules 3 and 4).
Regulates the use, identification and inspection of commercial gear and traps, including tag requirements for commercial nets/traps and daily inspection obligations for eel traps and fyke nets (reg 24-27, reg 26).
Creates a royalty for eel taken under commercial freshwater fishing licences with a rate and payment terms (regulation 35A).
Prescribes fees for recreational licences, whitebait licences, commercial freshwater fishing licences and fish farm licences with a tiered fee structure based on licence type, duration and farm biomass (Schedule 5).
Lists infringements that may be dealt with by infringement notice and prescribes the penalty units for those infringement notice offences (reg 36; Schedule 6).

Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Inland Fisheries Regulations 2019.

Part 1

Preliminary

Part 1 Preliminary

Short title

1 Short title

These regulations may be cited as the Inland Fisheries Regulations 2019 .

Commencement

2 Commencement

These regulations take effect on 9 December 2019.

Interpretation

3 Interpretation

(1) In these regulations –

Act means the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 ;

bait means –

(a) an animal that is stored alive or dead for the purpose of bait; or

(b) an animal that is used alive or dead as bait; or

(c) a product wholly or partially derived from animal product that –

(i) is capable of being affixed to a hook; and

(ii) is designed to attract, or is capable of attracting, fish by its scent; or

(d) a product wholly or partially derived from artificial product that –

(i) is capable of being affixed to a hook; and

(ii) is designed to attract, or is capable of attracting, fish by its scent;

bank, in relation to inland waters, includes land within 100 metres of the edge or high-water mark of the inland waters;

blackfish means the species Gadopsis marmoratus of the family Gadopsidae;

bream means the species Acanthopagrus butcheri of the family Sparidae;

[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023]

[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] Camden Lake means the water body located at grid reference 539933 5424268 (commonly known as Camden Lake);

commercial fisher means –

(a) the holder of a commercial freshwater fishing licence; or

(b) a person authorised or required by the holder of a commercial freshwater fishing licence to take freshwater fish on behalf of that licence holder;

day means the 24-hour period commencing at midnight on any calendar day;

drop, in relation to a wing or leader of a fyke net, means the vertical distance between the head rope and ground rope measured at 2 points at either end of the wing or leader;

eel trap means a trap that –

(a) does not exceed 720 millimetres in height; and

(b) does not exceed 1 200 millimetres in length; and

(c) does not exceed 800 millimetres in width; and

(d) does not have any wings or leaders; and

(e) has a mesh size of not less than 15 millimetres; and

(f) has a round rigid opening not more than 65 millimetres in diameter;

eligible pensioner means a person who is –

(a) the holder of a current pensioner concession card issued in accordance with the Social Security Act 1991 of the Commonwealth or as a fringe benefit under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 of the Commonwealth; or

(b) the holder of a current Gold Card or White Card issued in accordance with the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 of the Commonwealth;

estuarine waters means any waters in a river that are subject to tidal movement;

freshwater crayfish means fish of the family Parastacidae;

fyke net means a collapsible, conical net that –

(a) has mesh of not less than 15 millimetres and not more than 39 millimetres; and

(b) has internal compartments and a tapered cod end; and

(c) has one entrance; and

(d) does not have a wing or leader attached that –

(i) is more than 10 metres in length; or

(ii) has a drop of more than 1 200 millimetres; and

(e) has a frame at the mouth of the net not more than 700 millimetres in height and 800 millimetres in width; and

(f) is securely fitted with a platypus exclusion screen; and

(g) does not contain bait;

grid reference means the grid reference taken from the Universal Grid Reference System used in Tasmania and based on the Geocentric Datum of Australia (also known as the "the GDA" or "GDA94") as defined in the Commonwealth Gazette No. GN 35, 6 September 1995;

junior angling development fishery means the waters specified in Schedule 2 ;

Lake Crescent waters includes waters in –

(a) Lake Crescent; and

(b) the outflow canal draining from Lake Crescent to the outflow screening structure at grid reference E512344 N5331352; and

(c) the inflow canal flowing into Lake Crescent from Lake Sorell;

Lake Duncan means the water body located at grid reference 485526 5348018 (commonly known as Lake Duncan);

Lake Lynch means the water body located at grid reference 485581 5347908 (commonly known as Lake Lynch);

Lamberts Dam means the water body located at grid reference 453376 5422762 (commonly known as Lamberts Dam);

landing net means a hand-held net that –

(a) has a handle of not more than 2 metres in length; and

(b) has an opening of not more than one metre in diameter; and

(c) is used to land a fish that is controlled with a rod and line;

lure means an artificial representation, of an animal, that –

(a) is capable of being affixed to a hook; and

(b) is designed to visually attract, or is capable of visually attracting, fish; and

(c) is not, in whole or in part, bait within the meaning of paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of bait;

mesh has the meaning given by regulation 4;

platypus exclusion screen means a screen covering the mouth of a fyke net that does not have an opening with a perimeter of more than 220 millimetres in length;

prescribed waters, of the Western Lakes, means the waters of the Western Lakes other than the following waters:

(a) Carter Lakes;

(b) Double Lagoon;

(c) East Rocky Lagoon;

(d) Emma Tarns;

(e) First Lagoon;

(f) Howes Lagoon Bay;

(g) Lake Agnes;

(h) Lake Baille;

(i) Lake Botsford;

(j) Lake Chipman;

(k) Lake Dudley;

(l) Lake Flora;

(m) Lake O’Dells;

(n) Lake Paget;

(o) Lake Tin Hut;

(p) Little Blue Lagoon;

(q) Rocky Lagoon;

(r) Sandy Lake;

(s) Second Lagoon;

(t) Talinah Lagoon;

(u) Third Lagoon;

rainbow trout means the species Oncorhynchus**mykiss of the family Salmonidae;

rod means a piece of wood, metal or other semi-rigid material that is not less than one metre in length;

Rossarden Dam means the water body located at grid reference 562472 5388490 (commonly known as Rossarden Dam);

seine net means a net that is used to encircle or surround fish;

seniors card means –

(a) a concession card of that name issued by the Tasmanian Government; or

(b) a concession card of that name issued by the Government of another State or a Territory;

set rod means a rod that –

(a) has a line with a bait or a lure attached and the bait or lure is in or on the water; and

(b) is not being held;

[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023]

[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] South Riana Lake means the water body located at grid reference 411128 5434847 (commonly known as South Riana Lake);

trolling means fishing by towing a bait or lure from a boat under propulsion;

watercraft includes a boat, canoe, kayak, float tube or any other craft that is used, or is capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water;

Western Lakes means –

(a) the Central Plateau Conservation Area west of the Highland Lakes Road; and

(b) the Walls of Jerusalem National Park;

whitebait net means a net –

(a) no part of which is more than 120 centimetres in circumference; and

(b) that is not fitted with a funnel, screen, valve or other device that impedes or prevents fish from escaping from the net; and

(c) that is not fitted with, nor used in conjunction with, any wings, leaders or other screens or structures capable of diverting fish into the net;

world heritage area means an area that is a declared World Heritage property within the meaning of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 of the Commonwealth.

(2) In these regulations, a reference to a particular type of licence is a reference to a licence of that type in the Act.

(3) For the purposes of these regulations, possession of something includes the following:

(a) actual possession or actual custody of the thing;

(b) control of the thing for the use or benefit of any person, whether or not that person has actual possession or custody of the thing.

Meaning and measurement of mesh

4 Meaning and measurement of mesh

(1) Mesh is one of the spaces bounded by the threads or rigid strands of a net or trap.

(2) Mesh is measured –

(a) in the case of mesh that is rigid, by the average length of 10 adjoining meshes as measured across the minimum diagonal points; or

(b) in the case of mesh that is not rigid, by being stretched diagonally, the average length of 10 adjoining meshes being taken when the diagonally opposite sides touch each other while the mesh is held taut.

Part 2

Recreational Fishing

Part 2 Recreational Fishing

Application of Part

5 Application of Part

This Part does not apply to –

(a) a commercial fisher who is taking fish under the authority of, and in accordance with, a commercial freshwater fishing licence; or

(b) the holder of a fish farm licence, who is taking fish under the authority of, and in accordance with, that licence; or

(c) a registered fish dealer who is dealing with fish under the authority of, and in accordance with, a fish dealer’s registration certificate.

Taking indigenous fish

6 Taking indigenous fish

A person may take, without an angling licence, indigenous fish in any waters specified in Schedule 1 .

Taking fish from inland waters

7 Taking fish from inland waters

(1) In this regulation –

live bait means any animal that –

(a) is stored alive for the purpose of bait; or

(b) is used alive as bait.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in these regulations, a person must not take fish from inland waters other than by means of a rod and line.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(3) Subregulation (2) does not apply to the following fish:

(a) live bait, other than whitebait, taken during the period commencing 7 days before the first Saturday in August in any year and ending on the Sunday nearest to 30 April in the following year by –

(i) [Regulation 7 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2020, No. 51, Applied:05 Aug 2020] . . . . . . . .

(ii) a seine net that –

(A) is not more than 6 metres long and not more than one metre deep; and

(B) has a mesh of more than 12 millimetres but not more than 30 millimetres; and

(C) is being used to obtain bait in estuarine waters, and is being emptied into the water without being drawn ashore;

(b) whitebait taken with a whitebait net in accordance with a whitebait licence.

Taking salmon from excepted waters

8 Taking salmon from excepted waters

A person must not take salmon from excepted waters other than by means of a rod and line.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Ground bait

9 Ground bait

(1) In this regulation –

ground bait means any form of fish food or bait that –

(a) is reduced to small particles or a mixture by chopping, grinding, mashing or similar methods; and

(b) is not capable of being affixed to a hook; and

(c) is used, or is capable of being used, for attracting or luring fish in order to facilitate their capture.

(2) A person who is on the bank of any inland waters or is in any inland waters, or is in or on a watercraft on any inland waters, must not –

(a) have possession of or use any ground bait; or

(b) engage in fishing within 100 metres of a place at which the person knows ground bait has been placed within the preceding 14 days.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

Use of equipment

10 Use of equipment

(1) A person must not take fish from inland waters (other than Lake Augusta or Lake Mackenzie) using –

(a) more than one rod and line at a time; or

(b) more than 2 lures, or 2 baits, or one lure and one bait, at a time; or

(c) more than 3 artificial flies on a line at a time; or

(d) 2 lures, or 2 baits, together with one or more artificial flies.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(2) A person must not take fish from Lake Augusta or Lake Mackenzie using –

(a) a set rod; or

(b) more than one rod and line at a time; or

(c) more than 2 baits, or one lure and one bait, at a time; or

(d) 2 baits, together with one or more artificial flies, at a time.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(3) Subregulation (1) does not apply if the person is taking indigenous fish in any waters specified in Schedule 1 using no more than –

(a) 2 rods and lines; and

(b) 2 lures or baits on each line.

(4) Subregulation (1) does not apply if the person –

(a) is fishing in waters where the use of bait is permitted; and

(b) uses no more than –

(i) 2 rods and lines at a time; and

(ii) 2 lures or baits on each line; and

(c) has paid the applicable fee specified in Schedule 5 .

(5) The holder of an angling licence may land fish caught on a rod and line with –

(a) a landing net; or

(b) a gaff consisting of a plain metal hook without a barb or similar device.

(6) The holder of a whitebait licence must not –

(a) use more than one whitebait net at any one time; or

(b) use a whitebait net unless the net has attached to it a tag bearing the number of the whitebait licence; or

(c) be more than 8 metres away from the whitebait net while it is in use.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

Securing whitebait nets

11 Securing whitebait nets

(1) In this regulation –

dislodged, in relation to a bush or the trunk of a tree, means no longer rooted to the ground;

natural causes includes, but is not limited to, ageing, disease, wind action, flood action, lightning strike and animal activity.

(2) A person must not secure a whitebait net to the bank or bed of a river using any of the following:

(a) a severed limb, or any part of a severed limb, from a tree or bush;

(b) a dislodged bush, or any part of a dislodged bush;

(c) the dislodged trunk of a tree, or any part of the dislodged trunk of a tree.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

(3) Subregulation (2) has effect regardless of –

(a) when the severance or dislodgment occurred; or

(b) whether the severance or dislodgment occurred as a result of human intervention or natural causes.

(4) Nothing in this regulation is to be taken as prohibiting the use of implements containing or consisting of timber that has been –

(a) legally harvested in the State; or

(b) imported into the State.

Use of other equipment

12 Use of other equipment

A person, while fishing, must not –

(a) when using that person’s rod and line, have possession of another person’s rod and line; or

(b) use a bottle, jar, can or similar object made of plastic, glass or metal in conjunction with a rod and line to indicate movement in the rod and line.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

Possession of equipment

13 Possession of equipment

A person must not have possession of an assembled rod, reel and line at a place (whether or not there is any bait or lure attached to it) if –

(a) the taking of fish is prohibited under the Act at that place at that time; or

(b) the taking of acclimatised fish or indigenous fish is prohibited under the Act at that place at that time.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

Unattended equipment

14 Unattended equipment

A person must not take fish using a set rod from inland waters or excepted waters unless –

(a) the person is at all times within 8 metres of the set rod and is able to see the rod; and

(b) [Regulation 14 Amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] the person is able to take up the set rod when a fish takes the bait or lure.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Minimum size limits

15 Minimum size limits

(1) In this regulation –

flounder means fish of the family Pleuronectidae.

(2) A person must not take from inland waters or excepted waters –

(a) a blackfish that is less than 220 millimetres in length; or

(b) a flounder that is less than 250 millimetres in length; or

(c) a bream that is less than 250 millimetres in length; or

(d) a freshwater eel that is less than 300 millimetres in length.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(3) A person must not take a salmon that is less than 220 millimetres in length from any of the following waters:

(a) Huntsman Lake;

(b) Lake Burbury;

(c) Lake Gordon;

(d) Lake King William;

(e) Lake Pedder;

(f) any river.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(4) A person must not take a salmon that is less than 400 millimetres in length from any of the following waters:

(a) Bruisers Lagoon;

(b) Camerons Lagoon;

(c) [Regulation 15 Subregulation (4) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

(d) Penstock Lagoon.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(5) Subject to subregulations (3) and (4) , a person must not take a salmon that is less than 300 millimetres in length from any natural or artificial lake, reservoir, tarn, pond, pool, swamp, marsh, dam or waterhole containing water.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(6) A person must not take a salmon that is less than 420 millimetres in length from any of the following waters:

(a) Carter Lakes;

(b) Double Lagoon;

(c) Emma Tarns;

(d) Howes Lagoon Bay;

(e) Lake Agnes;

(f) Lake Baille;

(g) Lake Chipman;

(h) Lake Flora;

(i) Lake O’Dells;

(j) Lake Paget;

(k) Little Blue Lagoon;

(l) Rocky Lagoon;

(m) Sandy Lake;

(n) Second Lagoon;

(o) Talinah Lagoon;

(p) Third Lagoon.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(7) A person must not take a salmon that is less than 500 millimetres in length from any of the following waters:

(a) First Lagoon;

(b) Lake Botsford;

(c) Lake Dudley;

(d) [Regulation 15 Subregulation (7) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] Lake Tin Hut;

(e) [Regulation 15 Subregulation (7) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] Lake Crescent waters.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(8) [Regulation 15 Subregulation (8) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] [Regulation 15 Subregulation (8) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] A person must not take a rainbow trout that is less than 400 millimetres in length from the waters of Yingina / Great Lake.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(9) For the purposes of this regulation –

(a) the length of a fish, other than a bream, is to be measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the end of the centre of the tail fin; and

(b) the length of a bream is to be measured from the forward-most point of the fish to the end of the tail; and

(c) a fish from which the head or any part of the tail has been removed is taken to be less than the relevant length specified in this regulation unless the part of the fish that remains is not less than that length.

Daily bag limit for salmon from certain waters

16 Daily bag limit for salmon from certain waters

(1) A person, on any one day from any of the waters specified in column 2 of the table in Schedule 4 , must not take more than 2 salmon that are equal to or more than 500 millimetres in length.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units, and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish taken in excess of 2.

(2) A person, on any one day, must not take more than one salmon that is equal to or more than 500 millimetres in length from any of the following waters:

(a) Bruisers Lagoon;

(b) Camerons Lagoon;

(c) [Regulation 16 Subregulation (2) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

(d) Penstock Lagoon;

(e) a junior angling development fishery.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units, and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish taken in excess of 1.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, the length of a salmon is to be measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the end of the centre of the tail fin.

Bag limits

17 Bag limits

(1) In this rule –

brook trout means the species Salvelinus fontinalis of the family Salmonidae.

(2) A person must not take, on any one day from inland waters or excepted waters, more than –

(a) a total of 12 blackfish; or

(b) a total of 12 salmon.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(3) [Regulation 17 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] A person must not take, on any one day from inland waters, more than a total of 5 bream.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(4) A person must not take, on any one day from any of the waters specified in column 2 of the table in Schedule 3 , more salmon than the number specified in column 3 of that table, in respect of those waters.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(5) A person must not take, on any one day, more than 2 salmon from the same dam or the same lake in a junior angling development fishery.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(6) Subject to subregulations (4) and (5) , a person must not take, on any one day, more than 5 salmon from the same river.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(7) [Regulation 17 Subregulation (7) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] [Regulation 17 Subregulation (7) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] A person must not take, on any one day from the waters of Yingina / Great Lake, more than a total of 12 salmon including a maximum of 3 rainbow trout.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(8) Unless otherwise authorised in writing by the Director, a person must not –

(a) at any one time, have possession of more than 24 eels; or

(b) on any one day –

(i) take more than 12 eels from inland waters; or

(ii) have possession of more than 12 eels that have been taken from inland waters.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(9) A person must not take, on any one day from inland waters or excepted waters, more than –

(a) a total of 2 brook trout; or

(b) a total of 5 Atlantic salmon.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(10) For the purposes of this regulation, a person who is in possession of fish at or on the bank of any inland waters or excepted waters is taken to have taken the fish from those waters.

Whitebait limits

18 Whitebait limits

The holder of a whitebait licence must not –

(a) take more than 2 kilograms of whitebait on any one day; or

(b) take more than 10 kilograms of whitebait during a whitebait season; or

(c) take or have possession of more than 10 kilograms of whitebait at any one time.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each 500 grams of whitebait.

Taking fish from watercraft

19 Taking fish from watercraft

(1) In this regulation –

restricted waters means the following waters:

(a) Ada Lagoon;

(b) Lake Lea;

(c) Shannon Lagoon;

(d) Western Lakes, other than Double Lagoon, Julian Lakes, Lake Ada, Lake Augusta, Lake Mackenzie and Pillans Lake;

(e) [Regulation 19 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] Talbots Lagoon;

(f) [Regulation 19 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] Camden Lake;

(g) [Regulation 19 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] South Riana Lake.

(2) A person who is in or on a watercraft on restricted waters must not take fish while that watercraft is under mechanical propulsion.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

(3) [Regulation 19 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] A person must not take fish in the Curries River Reservoir or Lake Mikany using a watercraft that is propelled by means other than manual propulsion or electric motor.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

(4) A person must not take fish by trolling in –

(a) Penstock Lagoon; or

(b) Little Pine Lagoon.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

(5) Subject to subregulation (6) , a person must not take fish using a watercraft –

(a) [Regulation 19 Subregulation (5) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] in Brumbys Creek, including any impounded water and any tributary or tailrace entering the creek above the uppermost of the 3 weirs on that creek; or

(b) in Carter Lakes, Howes Lagoon Bay, Lake Botsford, Lake Dudley, Rocky Lagoon or East Rocky Lagoon; or

(c) in the Pet Reservoir or the Guide Reservoir.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

(6) A person may take fish from Weir No. 1 and Weir No. 3 on Brumbys Creek using a watercraft that is propelled by oars, paddle or an electric motor.

(7) A person must not take fish using a watercraft that is not securely moored if that person is within 100 metres of an angler who is fishing –

(a) from a river bank or the bank of a lake; or

(b) by wading.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

Use of watercraft

20 Use of watercraft

A person must not use a watercraft to set and haul a whitebait net in any waters except –

(a) the Pieman River; or

(b) the Derwent River; or

(c) the Huon River; or

(d) the Henty River.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

Use of baits and lures

21 Use of baits and lures

(1) In this regulation –

artificial fly means a visual representation of any fly, insect, small organism or fish that –

(a) is affixed to a single hook; and

(b) does not incorporate any device to impart a rotary or darting motion; and

(c) is not, in whole or in part, bait within the meaning of paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of bait in regulation 3 ;

[Regulation 21 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] [Regulation 21 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] Canal Bay means the waters in the bay of that name in Yingina / Great Lake, the outer limits of which are defined by an imaginary straight line drawn between grid reference E476050 N5362584 and grid reference E476072 N5361781;

national park has the same meaning as in the Nature Conservation Act 2002 ;

[Regulation 21 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] [Regulation 21 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] Tods Corner means the waters in the bay of that name on the south-eastern side of Yingina / Great Lake enclosed by an imaginary straight line drawn between grid reference E481761 N5354650 and grid reference E481847 N5356012;

(2) A person must not have possession of any bait or any lure that is not wholly artificial on or within 100 metres of inland waters specified in subregulation (3) or (4) .

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

(3) A person must not take fish from any of the following waters except by means of a lure:

(a) [Regulation 21 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

(b) Brumbys Creek and all its tributaries between Weir No. 1 and Saundridge Road;

(c) [Regulation 21 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] [Regulation 21 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025] Canal Bay and Tods Corner in Yingina / Great Lake;

(d) Dee Lagoon;

(e) [Regulation 21 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

(f) Lake Crescent waters;

(g) [Regulation 21 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

(h) Lake Gordon;

(i) Lake Leake;

(j) Lake Pedder;

(k) Lake Sorell;

(l) Monpeelyata Canal, between the Ouse River Weir and Lake Echo;

(m) Risdon Brook Reservoir;

(n) any inland waters within a world heritage area, other than Lake Augusta and Lake Mackenzie;

(o) any waters between the Pine Tier Dam (including Bronte Lagoon) and the canals between that dam and Bronte Lagoon;

(p) any waters in a national park;

(q) the canal and waterways leading from Bronte Lagoon and discharging into Bradys Lake.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(4) A person must not take fish from any of the following waters except by means of an artificial fly:

(a) Bruisers Lagoon, Little Pine Lagoon and Penstock Lagoon;

(b) [Regulation 21 Subregulation (4) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

(c) Howes Lagoon Bay, East Rocky Lagoon, Rocky Lagoon and Second Lagoon;

(d) Lake Kay and associated lagoons;

(e) the canal by which water is conveyed from Little Pine Lagoon to the Ouse River;

(f) that portion of No. 1 Canal and No. 2 Canal conveying water from the Shannon River to Penstock Lagoon below 2 white posts on opposite banks of those canals.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(5) A person who takes fish in any inland waters specified in subregulation (4) must not use a float or sinker in conjunction with an artificial fly.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

(6) A person must not, on or within 100 metres of inland waters, have possession of a device that is –

(a) of an electric, electronic, sonic or ultrasonic nature; and

(b) capable of being used for the purpose of attracting or influencing the movement of fish.

Penalty:  Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units.

Fish not caught by licence holder

22 Fish not caught by licence holder

The holder of a recreational licence must not –

(a) on or within 100 metres of inland waters, receive or hide any fish caught by a person who is not the holder of a licence; or

(b) falsely represent that any fish have been caught by the holder of a licence.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Use of nets

23 Use of nets

(1) In this regulation –

coastal lagoon means any lagoon specified in Schedule 1 of the Act.

(2) A person who is on the bank of any inland waters or is in any inland waters, or is in or on a watercraft on any inland waters, must not possess or use a net other than –

(a) a landing net; or

(b) a seine net that –

(i) is not more than 6 metres long and not more than one metre deep; and

(ii) has a mesh of more than 12 millimetres but not more than 30 millimetres; and

(iii) is being used to obtain bait in a coastal lagoon or estuarine waters and is being emptied into the water without being drawn ashore.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 3 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units.

(3) Subregulation (2) does not apply to –

(a) a net used only in a tidal river (other than Ansons River, Scamander River or Swan River) by a person –

(i) [Regulation 23 Subregulation (3) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] on a fishing boat to which a fishing licence (vessel) under the Fisheries Rules 2019 relates; or

(ii) on any other boat or ship in transit to or from any waters beyond the seaward limits of a river; or

(b) the holder of a whitebait licence using a whitebait net in the rivers specified in Schedule 1 to the Inland Fisheries (Seasons and Waters) Order 1996 .

Part 3

Commercial Fishing

Part 3 Commercial Fishing

Use of nets and traps for commercial purposes

24 Use of nets and traps for commercial purposes

(1) A person who is on the bank of any inland waters or is in any inland waters, or is in or on a watercraft on any inland waters, must not –

(a) use a net or trap to take fish for commercial purposes; or

(b) have possession of a net or trap for the purpose of taking fish for commercial purposes.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 3 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to –

(a) a net or trap used only in a tidal river (other than Ansons River, Scamander River or Swan River) by a person –

(i) [Regulation 24 Subregulation (2) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] on a fishing boat to which a fishing licence (vessel) under the Fisheries Rules 2019 relates; or

(ii) on any other boat or ship in transit to or from any waters beyond the seaward limits of a river; or

(b) a commercial fisher using a net or trap in accordance with a commercial freshwater fishing licence.

Possession of acclimatised fish by commercial fisher

25 Possession of acclimatised fish by commercial fisher

A commercial fisher must not be in possession of acclimatised fish if that commercial fisher is taking fish under the authority of a commercial freshwater fishing licence.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 5 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Checking of equipment

26 Checking of equipment

(1) In this regulation –

protected wildlife means wildlife of a species specified in Schedule 2 to the Wildlife (General) Regulations 2010 .

(2) A commercial fisher who sets, lays or places in position any eel trap or fyke net under the authority of a commercial freshwater fishing licence must –

(a) inspect that eel trap or fyke net daily; and

(b) immediately after inspecting the eel trap or fyke net, remove or release from the eel trap or fyke net any fish or protected wildlife that the commercial fisher finds to be caught in it.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 5 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Identification of traps and nets

27 Identification of traps and nets

(1) The Director may issue a unique tag for the holder of a commercial freshwater fishing licence to use in conjunction with a trap or net authorised to be used under the licence.

(2) A commercial fisher must not, under the authority of a commercial freshwater fishing licence, set or use a trap or net unless –

(a) a tag issued for use in conjunction with a trap or net under that licence –

(i) is securely attached to the trap or net; and

(ii) is clearly visible on the surface of the water; and

(b) the number of the tag is legible and clearly visible.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 5 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units.

(3) The holder of a commercial freshwater fishing licence must notify the Director within 4 hours if a tag issued under subregulation (1) in relation to that licence has been –

(a) stolen, lost or destroyed; or

(b) damaged to a degree that renders it unsuitable for use.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 5 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units.

Interfering with equipment

28 Interfering with equipment

(1) In this regulation –

gear means any net, implement, apparatus, device, trap, barrier, screen, tank, container, structure, buoy, float, pole, tag or other device that –

(a) is used, or is capable of being used, in connection with –

(i) the taking of fish; or

(ii) fish farming; or

(b) is the property of the Director.

(2) A person must not interfere with any equipment or gear in inland waters unless the person is –

(a) the owner of the equipment or gear; or

(b) acting with the consent of the owner of the equipment or gear; or

(c) an officer.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 5 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units.

Offence for commercial fisher to have fish taken by unlicensed person

29 Offence for commercial fisher to have fish taken by unlicensed person

A commercial fisher must not –

(a) on or within 100 metres of inland waters, receive or hide any fish caught by a person who is not the holder of a licence; or

(b) falsely represent that any fish have been caught by the holder of the licence.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Part 4

Miscellaneous

Part 4 Miscellaneous

Possession of crayfish

30 Possession of crayfish

(1) In this regulation –

berry means fertilised spawn that is carried externally on a freshwater crayfish.

(2) A person must not –

(a) take or have possession of any freshwater crayfish; or

(b) have possession of any berry of a freshwater crayfish; or

(c) remove any berry from a freshwater crayfish.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 3 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Use of fish as bait

31 Use of fish as bait

A person must not use the whole or part of a fish as bait to take fish in inland waters other than estuarine waters.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 1 penalty unit and not more than 5 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Possession of protected fish

32 Possession of protected fish

A person must not have possession of any protected fish.

Penalty: Fine of not more than 20 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Possession of certain fish

33 Possession of certain fish

(1) In this regulation –

frog means any member of the order Anura (also known as the order Salienta);

goldfish means fish of the species Carassius auratus of the family Cyprinidae.

(2) A person must not, on or within 100 metres of a lake or river, have possession of any frog or goldfish, whether alive or dead.

Penalty: Fine of not less than 3 penalty units and not more than 10 penalty units and a special penalty of 1 penalty unit for each fish.

Request to vary fish farm licence

34 Request to vary fish farm licence

If the holder of a fish farm licence requests that the Director vary a fish farm licence under section 45 of the Act, the fees specified in Schedule 5 in respect of that request are payable by the licence holder.

Fees

35 Fees

The fees specified in Schedule 5 are prescribed in respect of licences issued under the Act.

35A

Eel royalties

35A Eel royalties

[Regulation 35A Inserted by S.R. 2020, No. 51, Applied:05 Aug 2020]

(1) The holder of a commercial freshwater fishing licence must pay to the Director a royalty for eel taken under the authority of that commercial freshwater fishing licence.

(2) The royalty payable by the holder of a commercial freshwater fishing licence under subregulation (1) –

(a) is to be calculated at 0.25 fee units per kilogram of eel taken under the licence; and

(b) is due and payable within 30 days after the day on which an invoice for the royalty is issued in writing by the Director.

(3) The Director may refuse to renew a commercial freshwater fishing licence if the holder of the licence has not paid the royalty payable in respect of that licence under this regulation.

Infringement notice offences and penalties

36 Infringement notice offences and penalties

(1) For the purposes of the Act –

(a) an offence against a provision of the Act specified in column 2 of the table in Part 1 of Schedule 6 is a prescribed offence in respect of which an infringement notice may be served; and

(b) an offence against a provision of these regulations specified in column 2 of the table in Part 2 of Schedule 6 is a prescribed offence in respect of which an infringement notice may be served.

(2) A penalty specified in column 3 of a table in Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 6 is prescribed as the penalty payable for the relevant offence against a provision specified in column 2 of the relevant table.

SCHEDULE 1 - Waters for Taking

SCHEDULE 1 - Waters for Taking Indigenous Fish

SCHEDULE 1 - Waters for Taking SCHEDULE 1 - Waters for Taking Indigenous Fish

Regulations 6 and 10

SCHEDULE 2 - Junior Angling De

SCHEDULE 2 - Junior Angling Development Fishery

SCHEDULE 2 - Junior Angling De SCHEDULE 2 - Junior Angling Development Fishery

Regulation 3

[Schedule 2 Amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023] [Schedule 2 Amended by S.R. 2025, No. 18, Applied:14 May 2025]

SCHEDULE 3 - Bag Limits

SCHEDULE 3 - Bag Limits SCHEDULE 3 - Bag Limits

Regulation 17(4)

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | | Item | Water | Bag limit (number of salmon) | | 2. | Big Waterhouse Lake | 5 | | 3. | Blackmans Lagoon | 5 | | 4. | Bradys Lake | 5 | | 5. | Briseis Hole | 5 | | 6. | Bruisers Lagoon | 2 | | 7. | Brushy Lagoon | 5 | | 8. | Camden Lake | 5 | | 9. | Camerons Lagoon | 2 | | 10. | Carter Lakes | 2 | | 11. | Craigbourne Lake | 5 | | 12. | Curries River Reservoir | 5 | | 13. | Dee Lagoon | 5 | | 14. | Double Lagoon | 2 | | 15. | East Rocky Lagoon | 0 | | 16. | Emma Tarns | 2 | | 17. | First Lagoon | 1 | | 18. | Four Springs Lake | 5 | | 19. | Guide Reservoir | 5 | | 20. | Gunns Lake | 5 | | 21. | Howes Lagoon Bay | 2 | | 22. | Huntsman Lake | 20 | | 23. | Lake Agnes | 2 | | 24. | Lake Baille | 2 | | 25. | Lake Barrington | 5 | | 26. | Lake Binney | 5 | | 27. | Lake Botsford | 1 | | 28. | Lake Burbury | 20 | | 29. | Lake Chipman | 2 | | 30. | Lake Crescent waters | 1 | | 31. | Lake Dudley | 1 | | 32. | Lake Dulverton | 5 | | 33. | Lake Duncan | 2 | | 34. | Lake Flora | 2 | | 35. | Lake Gordon | 20 | | 36. | Lake Isandula | 5 | | 37. | Lake Kara | 5 | | 38. | Lake King William | 20 | | 39. | Lake Leake | 5 | | 40. | Lake Lynch | 2 | | 41. | Lake Mikany | 5 | | 42. | Lake O’Dells | 2 | | 43. | Lake Paget | 2 | | 44. | Lake Pedder | 20 | | 45. | Lake Skinner | 5 | | 46. | Lake Tin Hut | 1 | | 47. | Lamberts Dam | 5 | | 48. | Lauriston Reservoir | 5 | | 49. | Little Blue Lagoon | 2 | | 50. | Little Lake | 5 | | 51. | Little Pine Lagoon | 5 | | 52. | Little Waterhouse Lake | 5 | | 53. | Meadowbank Lake | 5 | | 55. | Penstock Lagoon | 2 | | 56. | Pet Reservoir | 5 | | 57. | Pioneer Lake | 5 | | 59. | Prescribed waters (of the Western Lakes) | 5 | | 60. | Risdon Brook Reservoir | 5 | | 61. | Rocky Lagoon | 2 | | 62. | Rossarden Dam | 5 | | 63. | Rostrevor Reservoir | 5 | | 64. | Sandy Lake | 2 | | 65. | Second Lagoon | 2 | | 66. | Shannon Lagoon | 5 | | 67. | South Riana Lake | 5 | | 68. | St Clair Lagoon | 5 | | 69. | Talbots Lagoon | 5 | | 70. | Talinah Lagoon | 2 | | 71. | Third Lagoon | 2 | | 72. | Tooms Lake | 5 | | 73. | Tungatinah Lagoon | 5 | | 74. | Woods Lake | 5 |

SCHEDULE 4 - Daily Bag Limits

SCHEDULE 4 - Daily Bag Limits for Salmon from Certain Waters

SCHEDULE 4 - Daily Bag Limits SCHEDULE 4 - Daily Bag Limits for Salmon from Certain Waters

Regulation 16

| Column 1 | Column 2 | | 2. | Big Waterhouse Lake | | 3. | Blackmans Lagoon | | 4. | Bradys Lake | | 5. | Briseis Hole | | 6. | Brushy Lagoon | | 7. | Camden Lake | | 8. | Craigbourne Lake | | 9. | Curries River Reservoir | | 10. | Dee Lagoon | | 11. | Four Springs Lake | | 12. | Guide Reservoir | | 13. | Gunns Lake | | 14. | Lake Barrington | | 15. | Lake Binney | | 16. | Lake Dulverton | | 18. | Lake Isandula | | 19. | Lake Kara | | 20. | Lake Leake | | 22. | Lake Mikany | | 23. | Lake Skinner | | 23A. | Lake Sorell | | 24. | Lamberts Dam | | 25. | Lauriston Reservoir | | 26. | Little Lake | | 27. | Little Pine Lagoon | | 28. | Little Waterhouse Lake | | 29. | Meadowbank Lake | | 31. | Pet Reservoir | | 32. | Pioneer Lake | | 33. | Prescribed waters (of the Western Lakes) | | 34. | Risdon Brook Reservoir | | 35. | Rossarden Dam | | 36. | Rostrevor Reservoir | | 37. | Shannon Lagoon | | 38. | South Riana Lake | | 39. | St Clair Lagoon | | 41. | Tungatinah Lagoon | | 42. | Tooms Lake | | 43. | Woods Lake |

SCHEDULE 5 - Fees

SCHEDULE 5 - Fees SCHEDULE 5 - Fees

Regulations 34 and 35

SCHEDULE 6 - Infringement Noti

SCHEDULE 6 - Infringement Notice Offences

SCHEDULE 6 - Infringement Noti SCHEDULE 6 - Infringement Notice Offences

Regulation 36

Source text: opening excerpt

Sourced from Tasmanian Legislation Online (legislation.tas.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title

These regulations may be cited as the Inland Fisheries Regulations 2019 .

2 Commencement

These regulations take effect on 9 December 2019.

3 Interpretation

(1) In these regulations –

Act means the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 ;

bait means –

(a) an animal that is stored alive or dead for the purpose of bait; or

(b) an animal that is used alive or dead as bait; or

(c) a product wholly or partially derived from animal product that –

(i) is capable of being affixed to a hook; and

(ii) is designed to attract, or is capable of attracting, fish by its scent; or

(d) a product wholly or partially derived from artificial product that –

(i) is capable of being affixed to a hook; and

(ii) is designed to attract, or is capable of attracting, fish by its scent;

bank, in relation to inland waters, includes land within 100 metres of the edge or high-water mark of the inland waters;

blackfish means the species Gadopsis marmoratus of the family Gadopsidae;

bream means the species Acanthopagrus butcheri of the family Sparidae;

[Regulation 3 Subregulation (1) amended by S.R. 2023, No. 59, Applied:16 Aug 2023]

This checklist sets out concrete steps and systems-based controls that regulated persons should adopt to reduce enforcement risk and ensure routine compliance with the regulations. Each recommendation maps to the relevant regulatory provision.

Determine your category and licence needs:
- Identify whether you are a recreational angler, whitebaiter, commercial freshwater fishing licence-holder, fish farmer, or registered fish dealer. Part 2 (recreational) does not apply to commercial fishers, fish farm licence-holders, or registered fish dealers acting under their certificates (regulation 5). Choose and hold the correct licence and carry any required certificate while fishing.
Check waterbody-specific requirements before fishing:
- Consult Schedules 1-4 to determine whether a waterbody is in a list that allows indigenous fish to be taken without a licence (Schedule 1; regulation 6), that imposes lure-only or fly-only requirements (regulation 21(3)-(4)), or that prescribes bag and daily limits for salmon (Schedules 3 and 4; regulations 16-17). Because schedules have been amended over time, use the current consolidated schedules.
Licence and fee compliance:
- Obtain the correct licence and pay the fee stated in Schedule 5. Check concession entitlements: seniors card and eligible pensioner definitions are in regulation 3 and affect fee amounts in Schedule 5 Part 1. For commercial licences and fish farm licences check Part 2 of Schedule 5, which sets application, issue and renewal fees, and for fish farms ensure the fee relates to the biomass category specified in the licence.
Gear specification and marking:
- For commercial gear, ensure tags issued by the Director are securely attached, clearly visible at the water surface and legible (regulation 27(2)). Maintain redundancy and secure fixing methods to reduce the risk of tag loss or damage.
- For fyke and eel traps, verify compliance with dimension and mesh specifications in regulation 3 definitions and ensure platypus exclusion screens (permitted design constraints) are fitted where required.
Monitoring and reporting systems:
- For commercial operators using eel traps or fyke nets, implement daily inspection logs that capture inspection time, by whom, and any removals/releases of fish or protected wildlife (regulation 26(2)). Maintain contemporaneous records demonstrating daily inspections.
- Establish a 24/7 contact protocol so that any lost, stolen or damaged commercial tag can be reported to the Director within four hours as required (regulation 27(3)). Document proof of notification (time-stamped email, phone log).
Measurement and handling protocols:
- Train staff and volunteers to measure fish lengths according to regulation 15(9): generally a straight-line measure from the tip of snout to the end of the centre of the tail fin, except for bream which has its own measurement rule. Use standard measuring boards calibrated to millimetres and record photographs with scale where take limits are close.
- For mesh measurement, follow regulation 4 methodology: average length of 10 adjoining meshes across minimum diagonal points for rigid mesh and stretched diagonal measures for non-rigid mesh. Keep records of mesh measurements for gear inventories.
Avoid forbidden possession and proximity exposures:
- Remember the 100 metre “bank” and proximity rules. Do not have possession of bait, non-artificial lures or devices within 100 metres of waters where that is prohibited (regulation 21(2)). Physical separation of prohibited items and clear kit labelling will assist compliance.
Whitebait-specific compliance:
- Whitebait licence-holders must attach licence-number tags to whitebait nets, may use only one whitebait net at a time, and must remain within 8 metres of the net while it is used (regulation 10(6)). Maintain a visible tag, monitor net distance regularly and log usage times and weights to track daily and seasonal limits (regulation 18).
Eel royalty accounting and timetables:
- For commercial licence-holders catching eel, implement weight-based recordkeeping and invoicing reconciliation to meet the royalty obligation of 0.25 fee units per kilogram. Prepare payment processes so that invoices issued by the Director are paid within 30 days to avoid licence renewal refusal (regulation 35A(2)-(3)). Retain weighing records and weighbridge receipts where available.
Restricted water and watercraft rules:
- Observe "restricted waters" lists and do not operate mechanically propelled watercraft for fishing in those waters (regulation 19(1)-(2)). Check the specific waters where manual or electric propulsion is permitted (regulation 19(3)-(6)).
Prohibited practices and equipment:
- Do not use ground bait within 100 metres of the bank (regulation 9(2)). Avoid securing whitebait nets using severed limbs or dislodged trees or bushes (regulation 11(2)). Do not possess electric, sonic or ultrasonic devices used to attract fish within 100 metres of inland waters (regulation 21(6)).
Recordkeeping for bag limits and sales:
- For recreational fishers who may be subject to sale or transfer restrictions, keep clear records of catches, numbers and sizes. For commercial fishers track catch per licence and ensure acclimatised fish possession prohibitions while taking under a commercial licence are respected (regulation 25).
Responding to enforcement or notices:
- If the Director issues an invoice for eel royalties or serves an infringement notice under Schedule 6, follow the procedural guidance in the notice and consult the Act for appeal and payment processes. Use the infringement regime to resolve lower-level breaches promptly to avoid escalation.
Use the Director’s written authorisations where appropriate:
- If special needs arise (for example, an authorised higher eel possession limit), obtain written authorisation from the Director under regulation 17(8) and keep the authorisation on hand while operating.
Training and delegation:
- Provide staff training on measurement rules, tag handling, prohibited equipment and proximity rules. Delegate responsibilities for daily inspection logs and tag-reporting to named personnel with backups to meet the four-hour notification window.

Compliance systems should combine documentation (inspection logs, measurement photos, weighbridge receipts), physical controls (tag attachment methods, dedicated storage for prohibited items when moving between waters), and administrative processes (fee payment calendars, licence renewals, Director notification phone line). The regulation text creates numerous place- and time-specific obligations; compliance requires prior checking of the consolidated schedules and active operational procedures to meet short timelines imposed by the rules.