Recreational fishing is booming in Queensland, so should fishers pay a licence fee?

The booming popularity of recreational fishing could be having an impact on Queensland’s fish stocks, with a need for government to investigate better record keeping.

A rise in the number of boats registered and increased activity at launching sites has been documented since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions during April 2021.

During those months, fishing for food was a permitted outdoor activity under strict movement controls designed to prevent any community spread of the virus.

Boat trailer numbers at nine of the 48 sites surveyed by Fisheries…