Environment and Resource Management

What does the new zoning plan mean for me?

Other information sheets about the new zoning are also available:

The new zoning plan for Moreton Bay Marine Park commences on 1 March 2009 and will be enforced from this date. Make sure you know these new zones and understand how the new zoning affects you before you head out into the marine park.

A number of changes have been made to the zoning for Moreton Bay Marine Park. The new zoning plan aims to protect Moreton Bay's unique habitats and wildlife, while making sure it is used sustainably and can be enjoyed now and in the future.

This information sheet summarises key changes to the zoning. Refer to the Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2008 for full details.

Boating

The new zoning plan extends existing go slow areas for turtles and dugong, where vessels must be operated off-the-plane to help avoid injuring turtles and dugong. New go slow areas for natural values have also been introduced to protect relatively undisturbed areas of the marine park, such as Swan Bay, Tripcony Bight, McCoys Creek, Coombabah Lake and Willes Island.

There are no "no go" zones. Boaters can travel through all zones in the marine park, however when travelling through a marine national park (green) zone, all fishing gear must be stowed or secured. Also, vessels must not discharge any waste, including treated or untreated sewage, in marine national park (green) zones.

To protect corals from anchor damage, there are three no anchoring areas in the marine park where anchoring is not allowed. These areas are at Flat Rock, Flinders Reef and Myora Reef. A two hour time limit applies to the existing public moorings on the north-western side of Flinders Reef.

Time limits apply when anchoring in the marine park. A permit is required to anchor longer than 14 consecutive days in any area of each zone or 30 days in any period of 60 days, unless you move at least one nautical mile within these time limits. Boaters in Moreton Bay Marine Park must also continue to observe all other maritime safety legislation and requirements.

Go slow areas

  1. Go slow areas for turtles and dugong - these are known hot spots for turtles and dugong, and help to protect these species from boat strike.
  2. Go slow areas for natural values - to protect relatively undisturbed or sensitive habitats.
  3. Go slow areas for vessels longer than eight metres - in shallow or narrow areas where turtles and dugong are threatened by larger boats, vessels over eight metres are restricted to 10 knots.

All vessels, including personal watercraft (PWC), must observe go slow requirements - including not undertaking motorised water sports. On-the-spot fines apply.

Recreational fishing, bait gathering and collecting

Recreational fishing and collecting is allowed in all zones except marine national park (green) zones. All types of fishing, spearfishing, bait gathering, crabbing and netting are prohibited in these zones. When travelling through a marine national park (green) zone, all fishing equipment on board a vessel must be stowed or secured. This means that hand lines and hand-held rods must be inboard the vessel or stored in rod holders, with no part of the line or fishing equipment in the water.

Recreational anglers can use up to two lines and a maximum of two hooks each when line fishing or trolling in conservation park (yellow) zones. Recreational anglers can use up to three lines and six hooks when line fishing or trolling in habitat protection (dark blue) zones or general use (light blue) zones.

Bait netting is allowed in conservation park (yellow) zones, habitat protection (dark blue) zones and general use (light blue) zones. Refer to the zoning plan for more details about bait netting in the marine park, including the types of gear that can be used.

Where bait gathering is permitted, bait worms, eugaries/pipis or yabbies can be collected by hand, fork or yabby pump. Other equipment is prohibited. Bait gatherers should replace seagrass sods in an upright position.

Limited spearfishing is allowed in all zones, except marine national park (green) zones. Spearfishers must not use a power-head, firearm, light or underwater breathing apparatus - other than a snorkel.

Recreational fishers must also observe all requirements and bag limits under the Fisheries Act 1994. Visit the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au for information.

Diving

Diving is allowed in all zones in the marine park. However, divers must continue to observe the restrictions in place in grey nurse shark areas at Cherubs Cave, Flat Rock and Henderson Rock. Divers can be fined up to $7500 for breaking these laws.

Restrictions also apply to diving at the artificial reefs created through the Moreton Bay Marine Park trial artificial reef program.

Refer to the department website for information about diving restrictions in these areas.

Jet skiing

Under the new zoning plan, personal watercraft (PWC) must operate under the same rules applying to other vessels operating in the marine park.

PWCs, which were previously prevented from entering marine national park (green) zones, can now navigate throughout the marine park. However, they must observe all go slow areas - including not undertaking motorised water sports and other requirements set out in the zoning plan.

Camping and recreation

Camping and other recreational activities can be enjoyed throughout the marine park. Refer to the department website for further details about camping areas.

Dogs and other domestic animals must remain onboard a vessel in areas adjacent to all national parks and cannot be taken onto national park areas. You must also make sure you and your pet avoid disturbing shorebirds in the marine park. It is an offence to cause unreasonable disturbance to shorebirds in the marine park - on-the-spot fines apply.

Pollution and litter can have a major impact on the health of Moreton Bay Marine Park and its wildlife. Visitors must observe Maritime Safety provisions regarding pollution from vessels. Also, on-the-spot fines of $225 can be issued to individuals littering from a vehicle or vessel under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Development

Coastal development can occur in Moreton Bay Marine Park however, to minimise impacts on the marine park, it is subject to assessment criteria. Building a private structure, such as a jetty in front of a house, is only allowed in general use (light blue) zones and requires a permit. Modifying, relocating or removing existing, legal private structures in any zone also requires a permit. Contact the department's Moreton Bay regional office on 3821 9000 for details.

Development involving major impacting works may only occur in designated works areas in habitat protection (dark blue) and general use (light blue) zones. Major impacting works must be necessary for public benefit, such as port or harbour works,
or dredging a new navigation channel.

Commercial fishing

In conservation park (yellow) zones, commercial line fishing and limited trolling and crabbing are allowed, however they must adhere to the same gear limits applying to recreational fishers in this zone. Also in these zones, commercial netting is limited to bait netting only. Commercial crabbing, netting and line fishing are allowed in habitat protection (dark blue) zones and general use (light blue) zones. Trawling is now only allowed in general use (light blue) zones.

When navigating through a zone where commercial fishing is not allowed, commercial fishers must ensure that fishing gear is stowed or secured. For trawling, this includes ensuring that:

Commercial fishers must also continue to observe all other requirements under the Fisheries Act 1994. Note: the new marine park zoning does not replace the current Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries closures applying to Pumicestone Passage - under this legislation the Passage continues to remain closed to all commercial fishing.

Entry and use guide General use zone Habitat protection zone Conservation park zone Marine national park zone
Boating Yes Yes Yes Yes
Line fishing Yes Yes Yesa Nob
Trolling Yes Yes Yesa Nob
Crabbing Yes Yes Yesc Nob
Bait gathering Yes Yes Yes Nob
Bait netting Yes Yes Yes Nob
Netting (other than bait netting) Yes Yes Nob Nob
Limited spearfishing Yes Yes Yes Nob
Limited collecting Yesd Yesd Yesd Nob
Trawling Yes Nob Nob Nob
Fisheries (fisheries legislation still applies)
Harvest fishery (not including coral fishery) Permite Permite Permitf No
Aquaculture (not involving addition of feed) Permitg Permitg Permitg No
Traditional use
Traditional use of marine resources Permith Permith Permith Permith
Research and education
Research (limited impact research, non-extractive & extractive) Permiti Permiti Permiti Permiti
Limited educational program Yes Yes Yes Permit
Tourism and charter
Tourism program Permit Permit Permit Permit
Vessels
Navigate a managed vessel Permit Permit Permit Permit
Other activities
Works Permitj Permitj Permit Permit
Operate a facility Permit Permit Permit Permit
Mineral, petroleum or geothermal exploration Permitk No No No

NOTES:

  1. Up to two lines and a maximum of two hooks per angler
  2. All equipment must be stowed or secured
  3. Maximum of four pots per person
  4. No coral. Limits apply to species and equipment used
  5. A permit is required unless the harvest fishery is accredited.
  6. Limited to aquarium fish fishery and beach worm fishery. A permit is required unless the fishery is accredited.
  7. A permit is required unless it is an accredited activity
  8. A permit is not required for activities undertaken under a traditional use of marine resources agreement (TUMRA)
  9. A permit is required unless the institution conducting the research is accredited. Research in green zones is restricted to priority research that cannot reasonably be conducted elsewhere
  10. Works that are not consistent with the objects of the zone may be allowed in designated works areas. Private structures may only be allowed in a general use zone
  11. The person must hold a lease, license, permit or other authority under the appropriate legislation

This is a summary only. Refer to the Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2008 for full details. Restrictions also apply to activities at artificial reefs created through the department's trial artificial reef program. Refer to the department website www.epa.qld.gov.au for further details.

Last updated: 19 October 2008

Information sheets

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Moreton Bay Zoning Plan

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