A - Z guide to responsible park practices
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Anchoring
Anchor with care
Anchors and chains wreck coral by:
- dropping on to it
- dragging across it
- wrapping around it and breaking and crushing bits off
Coral can also be wrecked if a vessel grounds when the wind changes and the tide ebbs.
All these activities damage the reef and kill coral. Years can pass before coral growth recovers. Sometimes it never returns to its original condition.
Follow these guidelines when boating in reef areas:
- Try to anchor in sand or mud away from coral.
- Motor toward the anchor when hauling in.
- Use a lightweight reef pick with heavy plastic tubing over the anchor chain wherever possible.
- Use public moorings where installed. Read the information attached to the mooring and ensure the mooring is suitable for your vessel and the weather conditions.
- Drift across reefs rather than anchor when fishing.
- Place no temporary moorings. It is illegal to place temporary moorings such as star pickets on reef flats or over reef edges.
- Travel at six knots or less over reef flats or shallow water to avoid turtle strikes, coral damage and for the safety of people in the water.
- Be aware of no-anchoring areas.
Reef protection markers, Whitsunday Islands National Park
Reef markers have been placed in some fringing reefs surrounding the Whitsunday Islands National Park. They have been placed in popular bays where inconsiderate anchoring in the past has damaged coral.
The reef area is marked by a line of white, pyramid-shaped buoys with the blue marine parks symbol. Anchoring is not allowed inshore of the line of buoys. Entry into the no-anchoring area is permitted when approaching or leaving a mooring or a beach. Coral should not be damaged. Markers must not be used to moor vessels.
These are not the only sites needing protection. Other sites will be marked in the future. Some places are protected naturally and do not require markers. Care should be taken when anchoring near any coral.
Public moorings have been placed in some fringing reefs surrounding the Whitsunday Islands National Park and in Moreton Bay Marine Park.
See public moorings section for more details.
B
Beachcombing
Rocky shores are great places for your group to observe a wide variety of plants and animals. If you look closely along the shore at low tide you'll see lots of animals moving and feeding. Most will try to hide from the sun's heat, so explore this area when it's cooler.
Take care of your group
- Avoid reaching into crevices where blue-ringed octopus and some cone shells may lurk. They are highly poisonous.
- Beware of waves crashing over rock platforms. Ensure no one turns their back to the sea when exploring a rocky shore. Avoid these areas when waves are big.
- Make sure everyone is wearing safe footwear with good tread. Barnacles and oysters slice skin; wet, algae-covered rocks are slippery.
- If anyone cuts themself, wash the cut and use an antiseptic to stop it becoming infected.
- Be SunSmart. Slip, slop, slap, and wrap (sunglasses).
Take care of the shore
- When studying creatures of the intertidal zone, be careful not to disturb them.
- Don't trample plants or animals. Leave rocks and shells exactly as you found them.
- Remember that creatures living below boulders are very sensitive to disturbance. Try not to move rocks. If you do, lower them carefully to the same spot to avoid moving or crushing whatever lives underneath them.
- To avoid causing erosion, walk your group to rocky shores from beaches or use formed stairways.
- The number of shellfish or gastropods you can collect to eat or use as bait is restricted. In some areas you're not allowed to take any. Contact your regional boating and fisheries patrol officer for details of bag limits and protected areas.
- Always take your litter home and remind your group to do the same.
- If your group is fishing, don't throw bait bags or other rubbish on the rocks or in the ocean. Take any broken fishing equipment with you and don't leave metres of snagged fishing line behind on the rocks.
- Check the marine park zoning for the area and if collecting limits apply.
Birdwatching
Queensland has more than 600 species of birds - about 80 percent of all bird species found in Australia.
Here are some hints for better bird watching in parks and forests.
- Plan your bird walk for early in the morning or late in the afternoon when they are usually most active.
- Never feed any birds. Let them find their own food!
- Use a light of 30 watts or less, and use a red or orange filter (cellophane will do) when spotlighting.
- Keep noise to a minimum. What seems quiet when alone can be loud when in a group and disturb other park visitors and wildlife.
Bush walking
National parks are wild places with hidden dangers for the unwary visitor. Here are some tips to make bushwalking safe and enjoyable for your group:
Before you go
- Know the track grades for the park you are visiting and match these with your group's level of bushwalking fitness and experience.
- Never bushwalk alone. Encourage your group to stay together.
- Get a park brochure or map and take it with you on your walk.
- Leave an itinerary with someone in your office in case your group get lost or someone gets injured.
Things to tell your group before and during the walk
- Wear comfortable, protective footwear. Thongs, high heels, new shoes and dress shoes are not suitable. Blisters are painful and can ruin their experience.
- Wear a hat and sunscreen to avoid painful sunburn.
- Pack a water bottle. For half to full day walks, 1-2 litres are recommended.
- Wear insect repellent to discourage biting and sucking things.
- Take a raincoat. The weather can be unpredictable and can change quickly.
- Take a small backpack with extra clothes, space for any clothes you shed when you get hot, water and a few nibbles to keep you going.
- Take a detailed map and compass in case you get separated from the group.
- Detour around snakes or wait for them to move off the track. Never provoke them!
- Stay on the track and read all signs carefully.
- Avoid drinking creek water. Even apparently pure water can be contaminated. Before drinking untreated water, use water purification tables or boil for 10 minutes.
- Keep group well back from cliff edges and waterfalls to avoid accidents.
- Supervise any children in the group carefully and never leave alone.
- Pay attention to warning signs and stop anyone if they try climbing over safety fences.
- Avoid walking on slippery rocks.
- Take care of your group when swimming. Know local conditions and only swim when conditions are safe to do so. Inexperienced swimmers can get in trouble quickly. Have an experienced guide keep watch over the group. Never allow anyone to dive or jump into waterholes.
- Encourage your group to take plenty of photos to share with friends and family.
After your walk
- Get your group to check and remove any ticks and leeches.
- Remove all rubbish from the park.
Walk softly
Walking tracks are designed to take visitors to special places in parks without causing unnecessary damage to the park. Bushwalkers can cause careless damage without even realising it.
Here are some tips for minimum-impact bush walking:
- Walk in small parties to reduce damage.
- Use toilets where provided.
- Bury any human waste 15cm deep at least 100m away from any tracks, campsites, water courses, lakes or drainage channels.
- On beaches, bury human waste below high-tide level.
- Wash yourself and any equipment at least 100m away from streams or lakes.
- Don't use soap, toothpaste, shampoo or sunscreen in lakes or streams.
- Remove all rubbish. Even biodegradable food scraps can upset the balance and cause weeds.
- Do the park a favour and remove other rubbish you find too.
- Protect the bush by not taking shortcuts.
- Walk on rocks and hard ground rather than trampling vegetation.
- Wear softer-soled shoes that cause less damage.
- Never mark your route. Blazed trees are susceptible to fungal attacks that can kill them. Marks can confuse other walkers.
- Try not to get lost. Search and rescue operations can cause more damage than bushwalking!
- Encourage other walkers to walk softly too.
Beach driving
Beach driving offers an exhilarating journey of discovery and adventure that is a valuable addition to many tours. But if used inconsiderately your vehicles can annoy shorebirds and other beach users, damage the natural beach environment, tarnish the reputation of your business and of 4WD users generally.
By following these tips you will help protect our beaches, provide a safe and enjoyable visit for your clients, and boost your reputation as a responsible tour operator:
- Observe all laws and regulations relating to the use of vehicles on beaches. Remember these regulations vary from place to place.
- Drive on harder sand between the waterline and the high tide mark to get the firmest surface.
- Keep off sand dunes except at designated crossing points for access to and from the beach.
- Plant covered sand dunes are easily damaged. Strictly avoid these areas.
- Recognise the right of others to use the beach. Be alert and drive slowly and carefully.
- Don't drive when you are tired or consume alcohol if you have a tour booked.
- Respect wildlife. Some animals are easily disturbed. Their survival can be affected.
- Ensure your vehicle is mechanically sound before starting your tour.
- Consider reducing tyre pressures when driving on soft sand but keep within the manufacturer's specifications. Reduced tyre pressure will affect your vehicle's performance. Remember to avoid sharp turns, sudden braking, high speeds and driving over rough surfaces. Tyres have been known to come off their rims and serious accidents have occurred.
- Don't forget to re-inflate your tyres to resume speed on harder surfaces, including harder sand
- Ensure your vehicle is in 4WD when on sand.
- Always carry a tyre gauge, air pump, towrope, first-aid kit, adequate water, food, fuel and spares on all trips.
- In remote beach areas travel with at least one other vehicle to reduce the risk in case of trouble. Have a plan if you get in trouble and ensure your staff are trained and know what is expected of them in emergencies.
- Plan to travel at low tide or within two hours of it.
Carry a shovel, tow rope or traction aids in case you get bogged in soft sand. Make sure your driver knows how to use these safely.
C
Camping
When organising a tour you should plan for all possible weather conditions and emergencies.
Here are some tips to make your trip a safe and enjoyable one for your clients:
- Plan carefully and make sure your camping equipment and vehicle or boat is in good working order.
- Read signs and brochures carefully. Pay attention to any safety warnings.
- Supervise your clients, especially near water and in areas where there is dangerous wildlife such as dingoes, crocodiles and cassowaries.
- Don't assume water is safe to drink. Boil or treat water before use.
- Keep all food in locked containers or in vehicles to keep it safe from wildlife.
- Extinguish fires whenever you leave your campsite unattended; use water, not sand, which retains heat and can cause severe burns.
- Encourage your clients to wear protective clothing to avoid sunburn, bites, scratches and stings.
- Never feed or provoke wild animals.
- Warn your clients about wild animals, including crocodiles, dangerous stinging jellyfish, snakes, dingoes, cassowaries, feral pigs, cattle, horses and buffaloes.
Protect yourself and your clients when camping on isolated or island national parks by taking these steps:
- Take extra supplies in case you get stranded by sudden changes in the weather.
- Be aware of tidal variations and strong currents. Anchor boats securely.
- Be alert for sudden weather changes, particularly storms and cyclones. Be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
- Carry a marine band radio and transceiver as many sites are out of range for mobile phones.
Do no harm
Parks and forests are special places. Please help care for the environment by observing these simple rules:
- Help to prevent the spread of weeds and pests. Check your vehicle, camping equipment and clothing to ensure they are free of seeds, fungi, soil, insects and rodents before visiting parks and forests.
- Help reduce the risk of wildfires and burn injuries by using a fuel or gas stove for cooking.
- Light fires only where permitted. Many parks do not allow open fires.
- Where open fires are permitted, use fireplaces and fire rings provided.
- Never collect firewood or kindling from the park. Even dead branches are protected.
- Remember, plants and animals are protected. Try not to trample plants when walking or erecting tents. Use poles, not trees, to support tent ropes and lines.
- If there are no toilets, bury human waste at least 100m from tracks and water bodies.
- In some popular parks you may need to bring a portable toilet if you are camping in areas without facilities. Empty the waste into special portable toilet disposal facilities. Check whether the park you are visiting has this facility. Never empty portable toilet waste into standard or composting toilets.
- Take all rubbish with you. Disposing of rubbish in fireplaces is an offence.
- Enjoy the peace and be considerate of others. Generators and compressors are only permitted in some areas. Check with local park staff before arriving.
Canoeing and kayaking
Canoeing and kayaking is the best way to experience may of our rivers, creeks and lakes. Follow the guidelines below to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip:
- Stay clear of power boats, as they have limited manoeuvrability.
- Paddle close to the riverbanks.
- Stay clear of channel markers to allow passage for power boats.
- Ensure all your gear has waterproof storage.
- Plan to travel in the morning when conditions are likely to be calm. Stronger winds often occur in the afternoon.
- Take note of distances and travelling times and plan your trip accordingly. Don't paddle alone. Use lifejackets (especially on children).
- Consider others when using jetties. Tie your boat, canoe or kayak so there is space for others to land.
- Where canoe racks are provided, store your canoe overnight in the racks.
- Natural hazards occur. Take care and beware of submerged logs, overhanging branches and shallow water.
Cassowaries
Cassowaries are found throughout the rainforests, nearby woodlands and swamps of north-east Queensland. As the area of cassowary habitat is reduced, human contact with cassowaries is increasing. Cassowary behaviour is unpredictable. Cassowaries are known to kick with their large clawed feet. This can inflict serious injuries to people and pets.
Take care around these birds:
- Never approach cassowaries.
- Never approach chicks - male cassowaries will defend them.
- Never feed cassowaries - it is illegal, dangerous and has caused cassowary deaths.
- Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids.
- Always slow down when driving in cassowary territory.
- Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road.
- If you encounter a cassowary, back away slowly and put something like a tree or a backpack between yourself and the bird, and then let it go on its way.
- Report cassowary sightings and incidents to your local the department office.
Caving
Temperatures inside caves are fairly constant and cool, so caving is a great way to escape the summer heat.
Caving can be a dangerous activity and you must be responsible for your own and your groups safety. Access to some caves is restricted or prohibited to protect bats, which are very easily disturbed. Caves are a very special environment and easily damaged.
To enjoy a safe caving experience:
- Never go caving alone. Walk in groups of three or more, with at least one experienced cave guide, and ensure each member of your group has a reliable torch.
- Stay on the track and take a map if possible and follow markers and signs carefully.
- Sturdy footwear is recommended and advise clients to take care on loose and uneven walking track surfaces.
- Be SunSmart. Wear a hat, shirt, sunglasses and sunscreen, even on overcast days, to avoid sunburn. Plan to walking in the cooler part of the day.
- Carry water and drink frequently to avoid dehydration.
At Mount Etna Caves National Park:
- The Bat Cleft track is closed to visitors from during the bats' breeding season, 1 November to the end of February. Guided tours operate during this time. Check the Mount Etna Caves National Park for more details.
- Access to the caves is restricted, and in some caves prohibited, to protect the special bats.
- Take care at the Bat Cleft cave entrance. The track is steep and can be slippery when wet. Tour groups congregate at the entrance and each person in turn is safely harnessed to view the emerging bats more closely. Your clients' cooperation is important.
- Avoid exploring old mine workings. These sites can have hidden dangers.
- A guided cave tour is particularly valuable for those with limited caving experience.
Taking care of our caves
Following these guidelines will help protect these special caves:
- Please don't touch the limestone.These ancient caves took millions of years to form and are easily damaged.
- Protect wildlife. Remember, plants and animals (dead or alive) are protected. Please leave everything as you found it and encourage your clients to do the same.
- Leave no rubbish. Rubbish bins are not provided so take it with you when you leave.
- Be considerate. People visit parks and forests to enjoy nature, not noisy visitors or radios.
- Do not fossick in, or damage, cultural sites.
- Keep to walking tracks at all times. Rocks can be slippery and taking short cuts damages plant life and causes erosion.
Collecting
Activities such as collecting plants or trapping animals are strictly controlled. Researchers can apply for a permit to undertake research in a national park.
Because national parks are managed to protect their natural condition, permission to alter that natural environment in any way is not given lightly.
Proposals to undertake scientific research in parks are carefully scrutinised. If the study cannot be done outside national parks, a permit for research on national parks can be issued to suitably qualified applicants.
Applicants must be recommended by acknowledged experts.
Within marine parks, the collection of fish and invertebrate species for recreational or non-commercial purposes is allowed as-of-right in some zones, but is subject to restrictions on the numbers of specimens which may be collected. Refer to the relevant marine park zoning plan for details.
Contact the Queensland Parks and Wildlife for more information.
Crocodiles
Crocodiles are dangerous. Never take unnecessary risks in crocodile habitat. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of your clients.
Follow these guidelines and be croc wise in croc country:
- Obey crocodile warning signs - they are there for visitor safety and protection.
- Never swim in water where crocodiles may live even if there is no warning sign present.
- When fishing, always stand a few metres back from the water's edge.
- Stay well back from any crocodile slide marks. Crocodiles may be close by and may approach people and boats.
- Never allow your clients to dangle their arms or legs over the side of a boat. If someone falls out of a boat, get them out of the water as quickly as possible.
- Never provoke, harass or interfere with crocodiles, even small ones.
- Never feed crocodiles - it is illegal and dangerous.
- Camp at least 2m above the high water mark and at least 50m from the water's edge. Avoid places where native animals and domestic stock drink.
- Never leave food scraps, fish frames or bait at your campsite. Always check that previous campers have not left these behind.
- Never prepare food, wash dishes or pursue any other activities near the water's edge or adjacent sloping banks.
- Be more aware of crocodiles at night and during the breeding season, September to April.
Cycling (mountain-bike riding)
A range of recreational cycling (mountain-bike riding) opportunities are available in various protected areas across the state. Commercial tour operators, organised group activities and competitive events organisers require a permit.
There are generally three styles of recreational cycling:
1. Recreational riding
- Leisurely riding at slow speeds with goals related to looking, learning, exploring, peace and quiet and where the natural setting is critical for personal enjoyment;
2. Active riding
- Active or focused riding at higher speeds with goals related to personal skill, fitness, challenge and riding prowess, where the natural setting is a relatively minor component of the overall experience
3. Competitive riding
- Competitive events such as endurance rides where goals relate to speed, accuracy and route difficulty and where the natural setting is largely incidental to the activity.
The leisurely style of riding is deemed the most appropriate form of cycling (mountain-bike riding) in department managed areas. The active and competitive styles of cycling (mountain-bike riding) are not generally considered appropriate in national park tenures but may be allowed under an authority or permit.
Cycling (mountain-bike riding) is allowed:
- on all dedicated roads that pass through department managed areas
- in protected areas, other than National Parks Scientific, on department managed roads where mountain-bike riding has not been prohibited by regulatory notice and on single-use tracks and multiple-use tracks where mountain-bike riding has been allowed by an appropriate sign
- in State forests, timber reserves and forest reserves on department managed roads, single-use tracks and multiple-use tracks under a permit to traverse or as prescribed by a regulatory notice
- on parts of the Bicentennial National Trail (BNT) that pass through the department estate in accordance with a relevant the department permit or approval and guidelines set for use of the BNT
- on other areas as prescribed by a current management plan.
To ensure the department meets its obligations in relation to management of parks and forests, mountain-bike riding may not be permitted in some areas.
Ride safely
- Riders must wear a helmet.
- Plan ahead, ride within the abilities of your clients and according to track conditions.
- Slow down and consider other track users.
- Avoid riding in large groups. Smaller groups provide a more personal experience.
- Avoid skidding and sliding around turns - this may result in a collision with other track users and personal injury and damage to the park.
- Avoid riding on soft, wet and muddy tracks. Contact local park staff to find out about track conditions. Tours may be cancelled if track conditions are unsuitable.
- Stay on track and do not take shortcuts or form new tracks, as this causes erosion and damages the environment.
- Respect areas closed to riding.
- Remember, most walking tracks are closed to horse and mountain-bike access.
- Carry a mobile phone if possible.
- When using tracks, cyclists must give way to walkers and horse riders and alert others when approaching. Let your clients know the give-way rules.
- Any route markers, signs, controls, checkpoints or any similar device must be either free standing or tied to trees, not nailed, and must be removed after the event.
- Notices should be placed on major access routes during the tour to alert other track users of the activity.
- Leave an itinerary with someone in your office in case your group get lost or someone gets injured.
- Remember, Queensland road rules, including speed limits, apply on dedicated roads.
For more details see the Cycling (mountain-bike riding) in department managed areas. (PDF, 112K)* Operational policy.
D
Dingoes
In Queensland the dingo is protected in national parks and other protected areas. Still widespread, the dingo is not endangered and is an important predator, helping to keep a healthy balance in natural environments. Outside protected areas the dingo is considered a pest due to its hunting and scavenging behaviour.
Attracting and feeding dingoes makes dingoes less fearful of people and less dependent on hand-outs. It causes hunting skills to decline and dingoes may become aggressive towards people on the occasions when they are not fed. This has become a problem on Fraser Island.
Naturally curious, the dingo will occasionally approach humans but should be treated with absolute caution. Remember, this is a wild animal.
To protect dingoes and be safe - make sure everyone in your group follows these simple guidelines.
- Always stay close to your children, even teenagers. Many children are scared by dingoes. Some have been bitten by dingoes wanting food or excited by children's movements. When on Fraser Island watch your children - dingoes move fast!
- Walk in small groups. People walking alone have been threatened and nipped by dingoes. Stay in small groups.
- Watch dingoes quietly from a distance; don't encourage or excite them. Don't try to attract dingoes for photos, call them or splash them; don't throw things or run near them. These behaviours are illegal (penalties apply) because dingoes become excited and may threaten you or other visitors by growling, biting or savaging.
- Look out for dingoes - stay calm and don't run. Dingoes sometimes chase joggers or children playing. What appears like playful dog behaviour to us is actually serious dominance testing by the dingoes, which can lead to aggression. Make sure you and your children know what to do if a dingo approaches you.
- NEVER feed dingoes. Resist the urge to feed dingoes because they look hungry or because you want to photograph them. Feeding encourages dingoes to become annoying pests instead of attractive wildlife. You could be attacked by aggressive dingoes when you stop feeding (they usually want more!). You will be breaking the law and can be fined. Feeding dingoes is cruel and dangerous!
- Lock up your food stores and iceboxes. Dingoes will chew or tear anything when looking for food, and can even open iceboxes! Store food and iceboxes in your vehicle until you need them. Take special care at popular visitor locations - dingoes snatch picnics and personal belongings.
- Pack away your food scraps. Dingoes are attracted by food scraps and smells. Clean all dishes and barbecue plates and immediately put rubbish bags in secured bins or vehicles. Even inside fenced campgrounds, rubbish and food left out will attract wildlife. Do not hang rubbish bags from trees or tent poles. Be dingo-safe no matter where you camp.
- Keep fish and bait in sealed containers off the ground. Fish cleaning in campsites is prohibited. Store bait and fish in shoulder bags or vehicles, not in beach buckets and keep burley and fish remains in sealed containers. Bury and cover your fish remains in a deep hole (50cm at least), just below high tide mark. Do this when dingoes are NOT around, to stop them associating food with people.
- Make campsites boring for dingoes - keep personal belongings safe. In some areas, dingoes rip closed tents looking for food, and carry off shoes, sleeping bags or other items. Keep camping gear and personal items in locked boxes or vehicles, or secure food in lockers where provided. Keep rubbish in secure containers.
- Tell others how to be dingo-safe! If you see other visitors feed or encourage dingoes or leave food around, tell them what you know, or record the details and tell a ranger. Their actions may cause your clients or staff to be hurt by dingoes.
Diving and snorkelling
The majority of divers and snorkellers cause little noticeable damage to corals. Damage occurs most commonly from fins. Inexperienced clients should be encouraged to practise snorkelling away from living coral and be aware of where their fins are to avoid touching anything with them.
When diving and snorkelling:
- Ensure your clients are properly weighted before entering the water.
- Practise buoyancy control and test their gear and techniques with them over sand, well away from any coral.
- For beginners, practise in safe, shallow water before visiting the reef.
- Secure all gear, such as the secondary regulator, so it does not catch on coral.
- Be aware of strong currents around the islands.
- Never lean on or hold corals and avoid hovering over corals when taking photographs.
- Never rest or stand on coral. If you must stand up, make sure it is on sand, or use rest stations.
- Quietly observe marine wildlife and avoid interrupting their natural behaviour.
- Do not handle marine wildlife, as it may bite or sting.
- Never chase, grab or attempt to ride free-swimming marine creatures or block their path.
- Stay away from areas where boats operate.
- If planning to dive at a grey nurse shark area, refer to the relevant marine park zoning plan.
See section Grey nurse shark designated areas for more information about diving and fishing restrictions.
Dive safety
In Australia, the minimum requirement for a recreational diver is a current, open€‘water SCUBA diving certificate issued by a recognised, accredited diving organisation such as PADI or NAUI. All clients on a tour should have the minimum dive requirement and necessary experience if diving around wrecks.
Spearfishing
Spearfishing in scuba gear is prohibited. If spearfishing with a snorkel, please be very cautious near other people. Remember: check the marine park zoning plan to see where spearfishing is allowed. Spearguns are not allowed on a national park without written authority unless dismantled and securely stored in a boat or vehicle.
For further information:
Visit www.divingqueensland.com.au
Dugong protection
Dugongs are particularly vulnerable to boat strike as they come to the surface to breathe, putting them directly in the path of boats and other watercraft. Boats travelling at speed or in shallow waters over seagrass beds or coral reefs pose the greatest threats.
Dugongs are also under threat from diminishing food sources. Seagrass meadows are being damaged by pollution (pollutants can include herbicide runoff, sewage, detergents, heavy metals, hypersaline water from desalination plants, and other waste products), algal blooms, high boat traffic and turbid waters.
You can help protect dugongs when boating by:
- Being on the lookout for dugongs to avoid injuring them, especially in shallow water.
- Know where you need to go slow. There are designated dugong and turtle go slow zones in Moreton Bay and Great Sandy marine parks. Refer to the relevant zoning plan for details.
- When a vessel is operating in go-slow areas, it must be off-the-plane (i.e. travelling at a reduced speed). Outside these areas, vessels are permitted to plane. Keeping vessels off-the-plane has proved to be an effective method of reducing injuries and death to marine wildlife from boat strike.
Don't throw rubbish overboard or discard chemicals into the ocean. They can affect the health of coastal mammals directly or indirectly through accumulation of poisonous substances in their food.
F
Fire
Fires are a hazard, but can also be a benefit. Fire has been an integral part of Australia's ecology for thousands of years and an important part of Aboriginal life. It is a vital ingredient in the maintenance of plant and animal diversity.
Fire can help to maintain the health of an ecosystem through the release of nutrients, encouraging seed germination and providing ideal conditions for growth.
Hazard reduction burns are part of an overall park management strategy. They help reduce the amount of fuel build-up, such as leaf litter and fallen branches in a forest. A smaller fuel load on the ground helps to reduce intensity and damage should a wildfire start and burn close to properties.
Ecological burns help maintain a variety of habitats or homes for a variety of animals. The burns are usually carried out in different areas over a period of years, creating a mosaic of burnt and unburnt areas. Unburnt areas act as refuges and reservoirs for wildlife and vegetation, which eventually recolonise burnt areas.
The department will attempt to notify all tour operators, neighbours, park users and other interested parties of an intention to conduct a planned burn. If you have any queries about how a planned burn might affect your business, please contact your local the department office.
Fishing
Recreational fishing is allowed on resource reserves, conservation parks and specific national parks in Queensland. Permits are required for commercial fishing tours, organised group activities and competitive events.
Fishing gear is only allowed in protected areas where fishing is permitted. Fishers travelling through a protected area where fishing is not permitted should ensure fishing gear is securely stowed, not easily accessible and out of sight in their vehicle or boat.
All fishing must be in accordance with the Fisheries Act 1994 and all subordinate legislation. Only fish, invertebrate bait and mud crabs can be taken. Freshwater spiny crays (species of the genus Euastacus) must not be taken for use as bait.
In areas adjacent to marine parks, such as island national parks or areas of foreshore adjoined by marine park, recreational fishing must be conducted in accordance with any relevant zoning plans under the Marine Parks Act 2004 and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.
In marine parks, check the relevant zoning plan for the area to see if fishing is allowed. Also check with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and obey any bag limits, size limits, tackle restrictions and seasonal closures.
In the ex-HMAS Brisbane Conservation Park, fishing and general boating on and around the reef is prohibited because of the serious risks posed to divers by these activities. Fines apply to vessels without a permit in the park. Boats must stand off at least 400m from the wreck in any direction to ensure they are clear of the zone.
Fishing competitions
The fishing component of fishing competitions is not permitted on protected areas. However, there are circumstances (such as on Fraser Island), where a protected area is used as a base for fishing competitions, while the fishing occurs outside of the protected area. In such circumstances the proponent will require written authority in the form of a deed of agreement or relevant permit specifying conditions relating to the activity (e.g. waste disposal and the location and use of competition infrastructure).
Spearfishing
Spearfishing will not be permitted in waters of terrestrial protected areas; however spear fishing may be undertaken in adjacent waters, subject to the provisions of relevant marine park zoning plans and fisheries legislation. Spearguns must be dismantled when on a terrestrial protected area and may only be loaded in the water.
Safety
Fishers are to take responsibility for their own safety and be aware of the safety of other park users. Fishing from walking tracks, boardwalks, viewing platforms and in areas of major public use for activities such as swimming will not be permitted.
How you can help
When boating:
- Keep your noise down and don't harass wildlife.
- Be careful when anchoring.
- Refuel on land to avoid pollution
- Discharge no waste into the water.
- Be courteous to other park visitors. Don't take boats close to shore fishers or swimmers.
- Look after yourself. Seek local advice about dangers. Never risk your life to land a fish.
- Disarm spearguns brought onto national park islands.
When fishing:
- Make sure it is legal to fish in the park. Respect any fishing closures.
- Never introduce any live fish into park waterways.
- Collect only enough bait for your immediate needs.
- Release any unwanted live bait into the same area where it was collected.
- Don't feed scraps to birds such as silver gulls. Fish-cleaning scraps must be dumped more than 500m seaward of the reef edge.
- If you intend keeping a fish, remove it from the hook or net quickly and humanely. Handling fish carefully also gives better quality table fish.
- Return all undersized and unwanted fish to the water quickly to reduce injury or damage and to give them a better chance of survival.
- Avoid fishing in areas where fish feeding occurs or where fish species gather to spawn.
- Kill legal fish required for food immediately and store them in a cool place.
- Practise sustainable fishing and observe bag limits and minimum and maximum size limits applicable to the area. Take only what you need
- Report any:
- fish kills to your closest Environmental Protection Agency office
- tagged fish to Department of Primary Industries Call Centre 13 25 23
- suspected unlawful fishing activities to Fish Watch 1800 107 116 any time.
When using and discarding fishing tackle
- Use non-stainless steel hooks . The majority of fishing tackle shops are good at encouraging the use of non-stainless steel hooks. Whenever you buy fishing tackle, ask for non-stainless steel hooks. Non-stainless steel hooks not only rust off an animal if you cut the line free, but are also cheaper too. Also ask for trace lines that degrade faster then stainless steel, such as graphite metal trace.
- Use barbless hooks that minimise the damage to the animal when removed. Barbless hook also make the job of removing the hook, and releasing the animal, easier after your next catch.
- Use circle hooks to avoid gut hooking, where the animal swallows the hook.
- Discard your fishing tackle responsibly. Throw away any discarded fishing tackle in a bin, not overboard, to prevent it from tangling marine life.
- Start up your own fishing line recovery project . A step-by-step guide is available for the Fishing Line Recovery Project (PDF)* at Noosa.
When releasing caught sharks, rays and sawfish
- If you have a stingray or sawfish on the line cut off the trace/line and set it free. The barbed tail of stingrays, and the jagged rostrum of sawfish, makes them too dangerous to handle.
- If you have a shark on the line:
- Take care of yourself. Only attempt to lift a shark onboard a boat if it is smaller then 1.3 metres. If it is longer then 1.3 metres, cut off the trace/line and set it free. If you do attempt to lift in onboard, use a wet towel to protect yourself and the animal. Lifting large sharks can cause internal damage to the shark. At all times make sure all your body parts are well away from a shark's mouth. Check that any bystanders are standing well back.
- Take care of the animal. Avoid long playing times, as they are not needed to bring a shark in. If you do attempt to lift it onboard, lift by the tail wrist, using the other hand to support the animal under the body near the pectoral fin. When holding a shark onboard, hold it down behind the first and second dorsal fins to stop your hands slipping towards the mouth. Don't put too much pressure on the animal, as that can squash the internal organs.
- Take the hook out. If your hook has a barb, use bolt-cutters to remove the barb, and then pliers or a hook-removing device to remove the hook.
- Take the animal back to the water. Release the animal back into the water as soon as possible.
For further information:
- Releasing sharks, rays and sawfish (338 KB) (PDF, 338K)*, from the department.
- Best practices in releasing sharks and rays (PDF)*, from Infofish.
- Hooking (PDF)*, from Infofish.
- Shark fishing - safety first, from the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.
- How to release fish for survival, from the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.
- Looking after protected species in Queensland: A guide for recreational anglers (PDF)*, from the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.
- Don't get hooked on stainless steel, from the department.
- Grey nurse shark fact sheet, from the department.
- Estuary stingray fact sheet, from the department.
Fish feeding
Most food fit for eating, particularly bread and meat, is generally not suitable for fish and may damage their health.
Be aware that feeding fish may result in undesirably aggressive behaviour in some fish and can be dangerous to people in the water.
Within marine parks, commercial tour operators are required to have a marine parks permit. Tour operators proposing to include fish feeding in their programs, would be subject to stringent conditions. Within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, strict guidelines and penalties apply. For more information go to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority website.
Four-wheel driving
Many accidents involving four-wheel-drive vehicles have occurred in national parks and on beaches. Accidents can be avoided by following road rules and driving carefully. Normal road rules apply to driving along beaches and on roads in national parks, conservation parks and forests. Drivers need to be prepared for difficulties that could be encountered in remote areas and in rough terrain.
Follow these tips for driving safely:
Before you leave
- Make sure your vehicle is in good condition.
- Travel lightly. Load your vehicle evenly with heavy items stored low. Distribute your load evenly for extra stability. Vehicles with too much stored on roof racks can overturn or become stuck.
- Always seek local advice about road conditions. Contact RACQ, local police or the park ranger.
Watch out for wildlife, pedestrians and other road users
- Drive slowly to allow time to react to sudden or unexpected problems.
- Keep an eye out for wildlife on or near the road, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.
- Expect to share some roads with pedestrians and other vehicles, including small tour buses.
- Watch out for, and give way to, walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
- Be very careful when approaching walkers and sunbakers on beaches. The noise of the surf makes it almost impossible to hear your vehicle.
Take extra care during and after wet weather
- Watch out for washouts, scoured road shoulders and loose surfaces.
- Be especially careful in wet weather. Some roads become impassable, even to four-wheel-drive vehicles!
- Avoid driving on roads (especially unsealed roads) during and after heavy rain. Driving on wet roads causes damage to the road surface.
Drive responsibly
- Make sure all passengers wear seatbelts at all times and stay inside the vehicle.
- Keep left, especially at sharp bends and crests.
- Pull to the side to let other traffic pass but do not damage vegetation or create new tracks. Use passing bays if provided.
Do no harm
Careless driving can cause damage roads and impact on wildlife. Follow these tips for low impact driving when taking your tour.
- Stay on existing roads and tracks.
- Give way to animals. Parks and forests are for their protection.
- If you get stuck, try not to use trees for winching. If you have no choice, use tree protectors.
- Wash all vehicles thoroughly before and after tours to prevent the spread of weeds.
- Leave gates as you find them.
If an obstruction blocks your path, don't drive into the roadside drain to pass it. Remove the obstruction, if possible and safe to do so, or return in the direction you came. Ensure that obstructions do not block roadside drains.
G
"Go slow" areas
"Go slow for those below" is now a legal requirement in designated areas. Great Sandy and Moreton Bay marine parks have a number of go slow areas aimed at protecting turtles and dugongs from boat strike in critical feeding and resting areas. When operating a vessel within a go slow area you must be:
- "off the plane" or at a reduced speed (no displacement mode)
- operate your vessel so as to avoid hitting turtles or dugong.
High boat speeds cause serious injuries and kill marine wildlife. Boaties should go slow for those below, even outside designated areas, especially when boating over seagrass beds, shallow coral reefs and in the channels as the tide falls.
For Moreton Bay Marine Park
For Great Sandy Marine Park
- Great Sandy Marine Park - Designated Areas (PDF, 2.7M)*
Grey nurse shark designated areas
There are four grey nurse shark designated areas in Queensland: three in Moreton Bay Marine Park and one in Great Sandy Marine Park.
- CherubsCave (the area in a 1.2km radius of the point 27°07.67' south, 153°28.67'east);
- Flat Rock (the area in a 1.2km radius of the point 27°23.41' south, 153°33.07' east);
- Henderson Rock (the area in a 1.2km radius of the point 27°07.92' south, 153°28.71' east).
- Wolf Rock (the area in a 1.5km radius of the point 25°54.600' south, 153°11.850' east).
The grey nurse designated areas aim to protect the grey nurse shark population and its habitat by minimising harm or distress caused directly or indirectly by diving or other human activities.
Diving requirements in grey nurse shark designated areas
The diving restrictions have been put in place to protect the grey nurse shark and its habitat.
Divers in the grey nurse shark areas must not:
- dive as part of a group of more than 10 divers. Tourist operators may have groups of up to 12 divers, provided the extra divers are either instructors or guides.
- dive between 6pm and 6am
- touch or feed a grey nurse shark
- chase, harass or interrupt the swimming patterns or interfere with a grey nurse shark's natural behaviour
- attempt to block cave entrances or gutters, or entrap grey nurse sharks
- use mechanical or electro-acoustic apparatus including, but not limited to, scooters, horns and shark-repelling devices. Commercial operators may use equipment required for diving under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
The department may also develop a system to manage the number of divers visiting the areas where grey nurse sharks congregate. This may include setting distances between dive groups and limiting the number of groups that may use an area at a time.
Tour operators and dive clubs
Tour operators with diving as an activity on their marine parks permit and dive clubs that are diving in a grey nurse shark area must:
- Entry and use provisions sign - Diving in grey nurse shark areas (PDF, 81K)*
- Map showing grey nurse shark areas (PDF, 30K)*.
- ensure that divers are given information about the restrictions for the zone; and the restrictions on entering or using the grey nurse shark area
- display the entry and use provisions for grey nurse shark areas in a prominent position on board all diving boats, and in dive shops or clubs that operate or promote diving trips in marine parks.
How tour operators can protect grey nurse sharks
There are a number of ways you can help protect this species.
- Download and complete a grey nurse shark survey data record sheet.
- Report any suspicious activities, death or injuries to the Marine Stranding Hotline on 1 300 130 372.
- Email any information about the grey nurse shark to greynurseshark@epa.qld.gov.au.
Survey data record sheets:
- Diving instructions for carrying out grey nurse shark surveys
- What to do if you catch a grey nurse shark
- Commercial operator grey nurse shark survey
You should record the following information if you see or catch a grey nurse shark:
- tag number and colour (if any)
- date, time, location
- water depth and temperature
- sex, approximate size
- scars, fishing tackle and behaviour.
If possible, include photographs or video footage of the shark. To help identify the shark, photograph its distinguishing features (e.g. scars) and dark spots from the first dorsal fin to the end of the tail.
It is also important to record if you do not see a grey nurse shark in a grey nurse shark area.
* Requires Acrobat Reader
Last updated: 24 October 2008