Fishing is a popular recreational pastime that allows people to spend time on the water with family and friends and to get in touch with the natural world. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park offers many exciting and different fishing opportunities in a well-regulated and monitored system of zoning areas, including no take zones.

As well as observing fishing regulations, it is important that those who fish adopt responsible fishing practices while out on the water. These practices help reduce impacts on the natural environment, maintain the ecological balance of the area and minimise harm to fish.

Cairns Reef Fishing is passionate about our marine environment, and we strongly support a sustainable fishing resource. We adhere to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Responsible Reef Practices and Queensland Fisheries catch regulations.

We aim for best practice in our conduct on the Great Barrier Reef in the following ways.

• We advise our clients about all fishing regulations and best practices.
• We provide interpretation about sustainable fishing practices, species identification and measurement, protected fish species such as Maori wrasse, and barramundi cod and explain why the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a special place and the reasons for fishing regulations.
• We encourage our customers to take only what they need.
• We do not fish near commercial dive sites or pontoons.
• We do not fish at known or suspected fish spawning aggregation sites.
• We fish a safe distance from marine animals (such as dolphins, whales, turtles and dugongs) and bird roosting or nesting areas.
• We return all undersized and unwanted fish to the water quickly to minimise injury and we use industry best practice to return unwanted fish.
• We euthanise kept fish in a timely and humane manner.
• We do not litter – we clean up all fishing gear (such as discarded tackle and line, and bait bags) and take it back to shore to dispose of it properly.
• We participate in fish monitoring and research programs through the Qld fisheries department.
• We avoid damage to fragile corals by only anchoring in depth of water where these corals do not live and using quick release anchor systems.

We believe that by following these simple guidelines we are helping to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park continues to be one of the best spots on earth to fish.