The Tasmanian Government will temporarily ban recreational fishing for sand flathead in south-eastern Tasmania from 1 March 2026 after scientists confirmed the population has severely declined to about 5% of sustainable levels. The stock was first classified as depleted in 2022, but numbers have continued to fall despite tighter catch limits.

Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce described the species as effectively overfished, saying the closure is necessary to ensure future generations can fish for sand flathead. The government has committed $1.2 million to a recovery program led by the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), focusing on restocking and relocation, timed with the species’ natural spawning cycle.

While fishing will still be allowed in the region, authorities will encourage anglers to target other species. Sand flathead historically made up around half of the recreational catch in the south-east, making the ban particularly significant.

The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Environmental groups and some politicians praised the move as overdue and necessary for stock recovery. However, the Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing and Labor’s primary industries spokesperson criticised the ban, arguing recreational fishers are bearing the cost of long-term fisheries mismanagement.

Many recreational fishers interviewed acknowledged the decline in fish size and abundance, with some reluctantly supporting the ban if it helps the species recover, while others expressed frustration at losing a key reason to fish locally.

Read the full ABC article here