Community Concern Grows Over Whitsundays Tunnel Net Trials

Thousands of fish were photographed crowded together in the tunnel net sock during one of the trials conducted in Bowen in 2025. Photo credit: John Haenke

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By Chelsea Ravizza

Growing community opposition has emerged over the Queensland Department of Primary Industries' (DPI) trials of tunnel nets in the Whitsundays, with residents, tourism operators and recreational fishers voicing concerns about the potential environmental and economic impacts of the proposed alternative to gill net fishing.

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In May, more than 120 members of the Whitsundays community attended an information evening about the DPI’s trials of tunnel nets of up to 1.6 kilometres long, as part of research into alternative commercial fishing methods following the phase-out of inshore gillnets, with trials conducted in North Airlie, Double Bay, Shute Harbour, Bowen, Edgecumbe Bay and Sinclair Bay.

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During the meeting, organisers from the Inshore Flats Project said trial data showed the nets captured more than 30,000 fish across 17 trial deployments and raised concerns about the potential impact on fish stocks, juvenile fish habitats, dugong protection areas and popular recreational and tourism sites. Coincidingly, the Inshore Flats Project also used the meeting to launch an online petition, available via www.change.org/p/stop-a-new-tunnel-net-fishery-in-the-great-barrier-reef-world-heritage-area, opposing the introduction of a tunnel net fishery, which has since attracted more than 10,500 signatures.

“A new tunnel net fishery means deploying huge nets up to 1.6 km long, which lack capture selectivity, onto our beaches, bays and foreshores, to harvest high volumes of lower-value seafood. These sites include fish nursery and protected species habitats in a World Heritage Area,” said a spokesperson of the Inshore Flats Project.

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“This risks depleting local fish stocks, damaging coastal ecosystems, and harming local businesses that depend on recreational fishing and tourism. Accordingly, we have asked the QLD Government to permanently cease all tunnel net trials and divert the allocated public funds toward supporting the seafood industry in better ways.”

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Concerns raised at the meeting also prompted questions about the level of community consultation surrounding the trials, with opponents arguing the large nets could affect popular recreational fishing areas and tourism activities, including boating, kayaking and wildlife viewing. Among those in attendance was local resident Sammantha Wood, who said she had been unaware of the proposal until the presentation and believed many others were in the same position.

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“I genuinely hadn’t heard about the proposal before attending the presentation, and many people I spoke to afterwards hadn’t either,” said Ms Wood.

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“Regardless of where people stand on the issue, I believe the community deserves to know what’s being proposed so they can educate themselves, ask questions and be involved in the conversation before any long-term decisions are made.”

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A Department of Primary Industries spokesperson said the trials form part of research into alternative low-impact fishing methods following the removal of gillnets, with the department highlighting the research would help build the evidence base to inform future fisheries management decisions.

“The Queensland Government is committed to working with industry to identify sustainable, practical and evidence-based solutions that support the long-term future of Queensland’s inshore fishing industry as it transitions away from large mesh gillnets,” said a spokesperson for DPI.

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“The Department of Primary Industries is working with commercial fishers, researchers and other stakeholders to assess a range of alternative fishing gears that could support a sustainable and commercially viable fishing industry. The purpose of the trials is to collect scientific and operational information to inform future fisheries management decisions.”

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Ms Wood said the strong turnout at the information evening showed there was significant community interest in the proposal, with many attendees wanting more information about the potential impacts on the region.

“While people have different opinions, there seems to be a common feeling that the community wants to be informed and have a voice, and the majority of people I’ve spoken to feel that this is not the right area for them.”

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Ms Wood said her concerns centred on protecting the region’s marine environment and ensuring any future decisions were supported by scientific evidence and meaningful community consultation.

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“We [the Whitsundays region] rely heavily on healthy marine ecosystems, recreational fishing and tourism, and I think it’s important that any decisions are based on robust science, transparency and genuine community consultation,” she said.

“If there’s any risk of significant impacts on sensitive inshore habitats or species, I believe those risks should be carefully assessed before permanent changes are made.”

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Tourism Whitsundays Public Relations and Social Media Manager Rosanagh Gallivan said the organisation had not been formally consulted on the trials but was actively monitoring the issue after concerns were raised by tourism operators and intended to write to Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell to outline those concerns.

“The Whitsundays is the leading destination on the Great Barrier Reef, and our pristine marine environment is at the heart of the visitor experience - it's vital that any decisions affecting it are carefully considered,” Ms Gallivan said.

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“Tourism operators have raised concerns with us about the proposed tunnel net trials, and while Tourism Whitsundays has not been formally consulted, we are actively monitoring the issue and will be raising those concerns with the State Government to ensure the tourism industry's perspective is heard.”

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Several members of the Inshore Flats Project from across the Mackay and Hinchinbrook regions have also voiced concerns about the tunnel net trials, with charter guides and recreational fishers expressing fears about the potential impact on the region's marine environment and tourism industry.

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North Queensland flats charter guide Clint Isaac said he could not understand why the proposal was being considered.

“It blows my mind that the Queensland Government is even considering the introduction of 1.6 kilometre-long nets into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area,” Mr Isaac said.

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Retired North Queensland flats charter guide John Haenke, who witnessed one of last year's tunnel net trials at Bowen, said the experience reinforced his concerns about the proposed fishing method.

“What I saw at Bowen was completely unsustainable – trapped turtles and rays, plus thousands of stressed fish jammed together in a small mesh chamber, including dead and injured fish,” Mr Haenke said.

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DPI said the FishLIGHT program would continue evaluating a range of alternative fishing methods and technologies to better understand their operational performance, environmental outcomes and suitability for Queensland fisheries, with data collected through the trials continuing to be analysed ahead of the statewide phase-out of inshore gillnets in June 2027.

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“No decisions have been made about any future fisheries management arrangements,” said a spokesperson for DPI.

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"Any future consideration of changes would be informed by the available scientific evidence and be subject to the appropriate regulatory processes and stakeholder consultation.”