The Inshore Flats Project

16/08/2026

💡Thanks Mackay & Whitsunday Life for covering community concerns about tunnel net trials, with perspectives from a range of people.

🙅🏼‍♂️There is little or no prospect of tunnel nets gaining a social licence, quite apart from the environmental and economic risks.

🕵🏼The trials are currently suspended pending an internal, independent investigation by the Department of Primary Industries.

📢We call on DPI and the QLD Gov to permanently take tunnel nets off the table as new commercial fishing gear in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

💰The remaining public funds allocated to the trials should be diverted to supporting commercial fishers in better ways.

🙋🏻‍♂️If you agree, join the 10,700+ people who’ve signed the petition opposing a new tunnel net fishery in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Add your voice via link in comment.



Fisheries Queensland Tony Perrett David Crisafulli MP FRDC - Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Steven Miles Tom Smith Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Murray Watt UNESCO World Heritage Andrew Powell MP Dale Last MP Amanda Camm MP Natalie Marr MP Nigel Dalton MP Glenn Butcher MP Wayde Chiesa MP Adam Baillie MP Queensland Environment Queensland Tourism Development Tourism Whitsundays

31/07/2026

BREAKING NEWS: The Director-General of QLD’s Department of Primary Industries informed a QLD Parliament Estimates Committee that the tunnel net trials have been suspended while an internal, independent investigation is underway.

We have long held concerns about the tunnel net trials, and we support the decision of DPI to suspend the tunnel net trials. We have also asked DPI to ensure the outcome (including any findings) of the independent investigation, and any lifting of the suspension, are promptly made public.

The Inshore Flats Project continues to call upon the QLD Government to permanently cease all tunnel net trials and divert the allocated public funds to supporting the seafood industry in better ways.

Click on the link in the comments to join the 10,000+ voices who agree and have signed our petition.

23/07/2026

Our inshore flats are too important to lose through silence.

🎣 One of the most encouraging parts of this project has been seeing how many people are getting behind it.

🐟 Over the past few months we’ve been talking with anglers at events, local communities, and fishing stores right around Australia. The response has been incredibly positive. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re a fly shop, a tackle store, a guide or someone who just loves walking the flats with a rod in hand—people understand what’s at stake once they learn what tunnel nets could mean for Queensland’s inshore beaches and flats.

🐋 Awareness is growing, and that’s exactly what needs to happen. The more people who know about this proposal, the stronger our collective voice becomes.

✅ Our petition has reached 10000 signatures and isn’t slowing down, if you haven’t signed yet please follow the link the comment.

🙏 A huge thank you to every fishing store that’s helping spread the word, sharing information and encouraging their customers to learn more. It all makes a difference.

If you haven’t looked into the issue yet, please take a few minutes to see what’s being proposed and decide for yourself.

To learn more please visit our website

19/07/2026

Did you know that a new developmental tunnel net fishery could begin harvesting fish as early as 2027, as part of the “trial” program. 😳😱🤯

With thanks to change.org for profiling our cause 🙏🫡

If you agree that tunnel nets have no place on our World Heritage beaches, bays and foreshores🏝️🐠🐢, take 2 mins to add your voice to the petition. Link in comments.

07/07/2026

Aquaculture v Wild. Can you taste the difference? 🤔

We put it to some local taste buds, with a blind taste test.

What did we find? QLD saltwater farmed barra and wild caught barra are both great eating fish. 😋😋

Did you know: as part of the gillnet phase-out, the QLD Gov allocated $15 million toward sustainable aquaculture in QLD?

So aquaculture was always intended to help keep local seafood on our shelves when the gillnets go next year. And QLD farmed Barra production alone grew by 400 tns in just 12 months 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

A combination of lower impact commercial fishing methods and sustainable aquaculture can ensure that we all continue to enjoy great QLD seafood. 🐠🦐🦀🦪

No need exists to lay 1.6 km long tunnel nets that trap everything with fins along the bays, beaches and foreshores of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Especially when Barra made up only 3% of the trial catch.

**And before you scroll on, join the 9300+ people who’ve signed the petition to stop a new tunnel fishery in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Link in comments.**

🎥 John Haenke

01/07/2026

*IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE TUNNEL NETS*

Listen to the end for the latest.

What has Minister Perrett said? What’s going on with the trials?? What’s the timeline for a new fishery???

Some of the answers are as clear as mud. 🫠😵‍💫

But one thing’s clear. There’s something important you can do right now…

Join the almost 9000 people who’ve opposed a new tunnel net fishery in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Sign the petition. Link in comments.

If you’ve already signed it, send it to someone else. Every voice counts. Let’s get it to 10,000.

21/06/2026

Why continue trialling something that won’t be supported by local communities in Central & Nth QLD?

Not by recreational anglers, local businesses or local families.

No-one wants a 1.6km long net, that indiscriminately catches everything, on the beaches, bays & foreshores of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

We call upon Fisheries Queensland to show strong leadership and remove tunnel nets from the trial program.

Commercial fishermen should be supported to supply seafood using lower-impact methods which communities support, such as commercial line fishing.

The sooner the tunnel nets are off the table, the better off everyone will be.

Thanks ABC Tropical North for covering the issue. 👏🏼👏🏼

Join the nearly 8000 people who’ve voiced their opposition to a new tunnel net fishery. Sign the petition now. Link in comment.



Fisheries Queensland Tony Perrett David Crisafulli MP FRDC - Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Murray Watt Steven Miles Tom Smith Dale Last MP Deb Frecklington MP Amanda Camm MP Sean Dillon MP - Your Member for Gregory Whitsunday Regional Council Queensland Tourism Development

STOP a new tunnel net fishery in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

11/06/2026

Every sighting matters!

The extremely rare Smalleye Stingray has recently been sighted on the shallow tidal flats and near-shore drop offs on QLD’s east coast.

This may indicate that these waters are an important habitat for this elusive species.

If you see a Smalleye Stingray:
👉🏼pin the location
👉🏼take a photo or video
👉🏼get in touch via / [email protected]

Share around to help spread the word.