NSW's State Fish, the Eastern Blue Groper, will continue being protected

Eastern Blue Groper © NSW DPI - Recreational Fisheries

The NSW Government has today announced that the State's Fish, the Eastern Blue Groper, will continue to be protected.

The line fishing prohibition, implemented 12 months ago, will continue for a further three years from 1 March 2025 to enable further research and monitoring on the species.

This decision combines with the long-term existing prohibition on spearfishing and commercial fishing of the Eastern Blue Groper to continue the temporary prohibition of line fishing.

This decision has been taken after the Government considered a range of important factors including recently published scientific information that raised concerns about the potential impacts of climate change and that caution should be taken in managing the species due to their unique biological traits.

This decision aligns with the situation in Victoria where for a long period of time there has been a prohibition of line fishing, spear fishing and commercial fishing for the Eastern Blue Groper.

During the 12-month period of the ban, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development undertook both community engagement, research and stock assessment of the Eastern Blue Groper.

The stock assessment concluded that the Eastern Blue Groper is in a sustainable position, however this species biology makes them vulnerable to pressure and environmental change.

The decision to continue a ban of line fishing will afford protection for the State Fish, while the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development continue scientific monitoring and research of this important species, including looking at how the community can get involved through citizen science programs.

Anyone caught contravening the closure and taking Eastern Blue Groper in NSW by any method will face a $500 penalty infringement notice and/or a maximum court-imposed fines of $22,000 or imprisonment for 6 months (or both) for a first offence and $44,000 or imprisonment for 12 months (or both) for a second or subsequent offence.