The State Government will introduce legislation to strengthen the enforcement powers of NSW Fisheries Officers in a bid to crack down on illegal fishing, protect marine habitats and disrupt the black market seafood trade.
The Fisheries Management Amendment (Enforcement) Bill 2026, to be introduced to Parliament this week, represents the most significant update to fisheries compliance powers in years. The Government says the reforms will help Fisheries Officers investigate offences more effectively, improve workplace safety and better protect the state’s fisheries resources.
If passed, the legislation will allow Fisheries Officers to take action against people who knowingly purchase illegally caught seafood, require suspected offenders to identify themselves, question vessel owners where there are reasonable grounds to suspect their boats have been involved in illegal fishing, and inspect seafood transported and sold by mobile vendors to ensure it has been legally sourced.
The reforms also increase penalties of up to $44,000 for stealing aquaculture stock or damaging aquaculture infrastructure and strengthen seafood traceability measures to combat black market sales.
The legislative changes follow an independent review of fisheries compliance powers, commissioned by Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty after Fisheries Officers raised concerns about the adequacy of their enforcement powers and workplace safety.
Alongside the legislative reforms, the Government is expanding frontline enforcement, recruiting eight Supervising and District Fisheries Officers and up to 11 First Year Fisheries Officers to be based across NSW.
The Government says the changes will also strengthen protection for the state’s aquaculture industry, which has a farm gate value of $107 million, contributes almost $250 million to the NSW economy and supports about 2,200 jobs.
Separately, the Government will introduce a fit and proper person test for commercial fishing licence applicants and holders, including a requirement to complete a National Police Check. The test will enable authorities to refuse, suspend or cancel licences for people convicted of serious indictable offences, including violence against public officers, fraud, organised crime offences and serious fisheries-related offences.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the reforms would protect both the fishing industry and the state’s natural resources.
“With these reforms to compliance powers we are protecting the livelihood of hard working and honest commercial fishers and ensuring the sustainability of our resources for future generations.
She said the legislation would strengthen the protection of valuable fisheries resources.
“The Minns Government is putting in place a stronger and better way of protecting our valuable fisheries resources such as abalone, lobster and mud crabs.”
Moriarty said Fisheries Officers needed modern enforcement powers to carry out their work safely and effectively.
“Fisheries Officers undertake important work protecting our state’s aquatic environments and fisheries resources on the water, at the beach, at wharves and on the road, and they need modernised powers to better do their job.
“Like all workers in NSW, we are committed to ensuring that Fisheries Officers are able to feel safe and appropriately empowered to do their job and public service everyday across the state.”
She said the proposed licensing reforms would help protect both Fisheries Officers and the integrity of the industry.
“The introduction of the new ‘fit and proper person’ standard for commercial fishing licenses aims to protect the working environment of Fisheries Officers and for ensuring our natural resources are better protected from fraud or criminal interests.”
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