At least 1,500 species of marine fish destined for display in aquaria could be harvested from Queensland waters. Most of the fish that are commercially harvested for the aquarium trade (more than 60 per cent) belong to a few fish families including: damselfish and anemone fish (Family Pomacentridae); butterfly fish (Chaetodontidae); angelfish (Pomacanthidae); wrasse (Labridae) and gobies (Gobiidae). For a list of species that are important to the aquarium trade visit the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries website)

Some invertebrates are also harvested including sponges, bryozoans, tunicates, echinoderms (seastars, feather stars, sea urchins and non-commercial sea cucumbers), crustaceans (banded shrimp, coral banded shrimp, mantis shrimp, decorator crabs) and molluscs such as nudibranchs and gastropods.

There are 41 full-time operators and 14 restricted operators in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area.

The commercial harvest is estimated to be worth about $4m.

The aquarium fishery operates along the Queensland coast from the tip of Cape York to the New South Wales border.

Fish collected in Queensland for the aquarium trade reaches domestic and international markets by air. Therefore, there is more fishing effort for aquarium fish based in Cairns and Brisbane where there are international airports as well as good access to reefs and other suitable harvesting sites.

Fish are collected by hand or hand-held apparatus such as fishing lines, nets and herding devices. Commercial collectors use SCUBA or surface-supplied air from hookah apparatus. Recreational harvesters can use a mask and snorkel but cannot legally use SCUBA or hookah apparatus. Fish can also be harvested from shallow intertidal areas or estuaries.

Cyanide and other destructive fishing methods, although used overseas, are not used in Australia to collect aquarium fish.

Damaged or unhealthy specimens are of little commercial value and so fish are handled very carefully at all stages of the operation.

Special management areas (aquarium zones) along the east coast in high-use areas (Cairns, Whitsundays, Keppel, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay) have been established to protect stocks from localised depletion. The boundaries of these areas are defined in the Fisheries Regulations 1995 (Adobe Acrobat 1.97MB)

Commercial operators must possess a permit (“Authority to Take Fish for Trade or Commerce”) to harvest fish for aquarium purposes, which is issued by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. No new authorities are being granted.

Recreational fishers are not permitted to sell their catch, and must adhere to bag and size limits. There are also limits on the type of gear that can be used by recreational fishers in Queensland tidal waters.

Within the Moreton Bay and other State marine parks and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park there are additional limitations on recreational harvesters, which may include the requirement for a permit or limit the numbers taken.