Investigation confirmed but findings hidden

Fisheries Queensland confirmed it investigated overharvesting of coral on the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef but declined to share the outcome with the ABC.

Antler coral harvested 30 percent over quota

In the two thousand twenty-five to two thousand twenty-six fishing season, the harvest of Pocillopora grandis, known as antler coral, was overfished by thirty percent according to FishNet data.

Harvesters permitted 190 tonnes annually

Coral harvesters are permitted to take up to one hundred ninety tonnes from the reef annually, with much of this destined for the global aquarium trade.

Ecologist warns overharvesting sends bad message

Coral reef ecologist Dr Morgan Pratchett said while antler coral is not under threat, any overharvesting event is of concern given international scrutiny on industry management.

“It sends a bad message given the overwhelming international scrutiny on how this industry is being managed.”

Two quota systems govern coral harvesting

Individual transferrable quotas give fishers set amounts individually, while prescribed commercial catch quotas create a race where fishers compete until the quota is exhausted.

Competitive quotas regularly exceeded

Fisheries Queensland says going over competitive quotas is not uncommon or unreasonable. A two thousand twenty-four assessment noted some species continue to have catch limits exceeded.

Conservation group questions quota levels

Simon Miller from the Australian Marine Conservation Society said catch limits are not set at the right levels. Fishers racing to catch corals quickly see quotas overshoot year after year.

“They're meant to be some kind of precautionary catch limit yet we keep seeing them overshoot year after year.”

Ongoing prosecutions for illegal harvesting

Coral collector Jardini and its director Jason Coe face prosecution by Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions for alleged illegal harvesting. Coe holds five licences in the Queensland coral fishery.

Monsoon Aquatics diver convicted of violations

Tim Green, lead diver and skipper at Monsoon Aquatics, was found guilty in two thousand twenty-four of offences related to collection and recording of coral and fish.

Ecologist warns quotas may not be sustainable

Dr Pratchett said current data is very poor and corals are impacted and vulnerable from major disturbances. He expressed concern that actual fishing levels may be higher than recorded.

“We're already quite concerned about the level of fishing and if there's any major issues with compliance where the level of fishing might actually be even higher then that elevates our concerns.”