Protect Top End Coasts from Gillnets

Add your name below to stop the gillnets

Dear Minister for Fisheries Hon. Gerard Maley (cc Chief Minister and Minister for the Environment),
I acknowledge and thank you for your commitment to phase out destructive commercial barramundi gillnets by August 2028. However, every day that destructive commercial gillnets are in NT waters, they pose a high risk to one of the world's most endangered fish species, the sawfish, as well as other threatened and protected species such as dugongs, turtles, dolphins and river sharks. We urge you to take the next critical steps to ensure these species are protected and to prevent localised extinctions of sawfish.
The onset of the 2024 commercial barramundi season, risked greater concentration of fishing activity in fewer areas, significantly heightening the danger to threatened, endangered and protected species (TEPS). Three gillnet fishing areas were closed by concerned Traditional Owners and the government capped effort, at decade-high levels, in these three more areas.
This means the destructive gillnets could be pushed into the two areas identified as critical habitat for threatened species - Van Diemen Gulf and South-western Gulf of Carpentaria for sawfish and river sharks, the latter also being an IUCN registered Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA)).
I ask that the CLP government take the following action on commercial barramundi gillnets:
1. Implement Gillnet-Free Areas: Protect and help the recovery of threatened species by establishing gillnet-free zones in the two areas identified to be of critical importance: Van Diemen Gulf and the South-western Gulf of Carpentaria. This action is urgently needed as a first step of the commercial gillnet phase-out.
2. Publicly outline the regulatory process and timeline for the implementation of the full phase out of gillnets in the Northern Territory, and begin funding this investment in this upcoming budget.
3. Address displaced fishing effort: Initiate a buyback and permanent retirement of gillnet licenses to manage and mitigate the resulting displaced fishing effort effectively.
Your continued leadership and swift action on these initiatives are essential for protecting threatened species and supporting the Territory recreational fishing experience, both of which depend on a thriving natural environment.
Thank you once again for your commitment to protecting our Top End coasts. Together, we can create a future where our coastal and marine environments remain vibrant and resilient for generations to come, supporting our fishing lifestyle, local tourism industry, and unique marine life.

The NT Government is phasing out destructive barramundi gillnets. Now, let's push for the next steps: creating gillnet-free areas and buying back licenses to protect our marine life. Act now to help keep our Top End coasts healthy and thriving. Sign today!

Add your name to stop the gillnets

Every day that destructive commercial barramundi gillnets are in our Territory waters, they pose a serious risk to threatened, endangered and protected species including sawfish, dugongs, turtles, and dolphins, increasing the risk of local extinction for some species.

NT waters are part of the last global stronghold for one of the world's most endangered fish species, the sawfish.

Our threatened marine life can’t wait years for the NT CLP Government to deliver their election commitment to phase out gillnets by August 2028.

Urge swift action to protect our threatened species and safeguard our Top End lifestyle.

Read the email that we'll send

Dear Minister for Fisheries Hon. Gerard Maley (cc Chief Minister and Minister for the Environment),

I acknowledge and thank you for your commitment to phase out destructive commercial barramundi gillnets by August 2028. However, every day that destructive commercial gillnets are in NT waters, they pose a high risk to one of the world's most endangered fish species, the sawfish, as well as other threatened and protected species such as dugongs, turtles, dolphins and river sharks. We urge you to take the next critical steps to ensure these species are protected and to prevent localised extinctions of sawfish.

The onset of the 2024 commercial barramundi season, risked greater concentration of fishing activity in fewer areas, significantly heightening the danger to threatened, endangered and protected species (TEPS). Three gillnet fishing areas were closed by concerned Traditional Owners and the government capped effort, at decade-high levels, in these three more areas.

This means the destructive gillnets could be pushed into the two areas identified as critical habitat for threatened species - Van Diemen Gulf and South-western Gulf of Carpentaria for sawfish and river sharks, the latter also being an IUCN registered Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA)).

I ask that the CLP government take the following action on commercial barramundi gillnets:

1. Implement Gillnet-Free Areas: Protect and help the recovery of threatened species by establishing gillnet-free zones in the two areas identified to be of critical importance: Van Diemen Gulf and the South-western Gulf of Carpentaria. This action is urgently needed as a first step of the commercial gillnet phase-out.

2. Publicly outline the regulatory process and timeline for the implementation of the full phase out of gillnets in the Northern Territory, and begin funding this investment in this upcoming budget.

3. Address displaced fishing effort: Initiate a buyback and permanent retirement of gillnet licenses to manage and mitigate the resulting displaced fishing effort effectively.

Your continued leadership and swift action on these initiatives are essential for protecting threatened species and supporting the Territory recreational fishing experience, both of which depend on a thriving natural environment.

Thank you once again for your commitment to protecting our Top End coasts. Together, we can create a future where our coastal and marine environments remain vibrant and resilient for generations to come, supporting our fishing lifestyle, local tourism industry, and unique marine life.

Yours sincerely,
(Your name and suburb will be added here)