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Great Barrier Reef antler coral overfished by 30 per cent as Fisheries Queensland withholds investigation outcome

Scientists and conservation groups call for a rethink of harvest limits on the World Heritage-listed reef

By LineZotpaper
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Fisheries Queensland has confirmed it investigated an overharvesting of coral on the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef but has declined to share the outcome of its inquiry, prompting calls from scientists and conservation groups to rethink how the commercial coral harvest is managed.

In the 2025-26 fishing season, the harvest of Pocillopora grandis, known as antler coral, exceeded its quota by 30 per cent, according to FishNet data. Coral harvesting involves collecting coral from the ocean, with harvesters permitted to take up to 190 tonnes from the reef annually, much of it destined for the global aquarium trade. Bright colours and interesting shapes are highly prized by "reefers", the hobbyists who drive demand.

The ABC understands an internal investigation into this year's exceeded quota has been completed, but Fisheries Queensland would not provide details of its findings. Quota breaches have occurred several times in recent years, and some operators have been charged with fishing offences.

The fishery operates under two systems: individual transferrable quotas, where each fisher is given a set amount and breaches can result in prosecution, and prescribed commercial catch quotas, where a set amount is established and fishers race to harvest until it is exhausted. Fisheries Queensland said exceeding a competitive quota was not "uncommon or unreasonable".

A 2024 assessment of the Queensland coral fishery found some species continued to have their catch limits exceeded despite efforts to control overharvesting, and said fisheries would consider "trip limits, increased notifications, and more individual quotas if this issue continues".

Coral reef ecologist Dr Morgan Pratchett said that while this particular species is not under threat, any overharvesting event is of concern. "It sends a bad message given the overwhelming international scrutiny on how this industry is being managed," he said.

Several Australian coral species are already banned from being imported into the European Union due to sustainability concerns.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The Great Barrier Reef is World Heritage-listed and under intense international scrutiny; repeated quota breaches raise questions about whether the commercial coral fishery is being managed responsibly.
  • The regulator has completed an investigation but is not publishing the outcome, leaving the public unable to assess whether enforcement is working.
  • The global aquarium trade depends on this harvest, and sustainability concerns have already led the European Union to ban imports of several Australian coral species.

Background

Commercial coral harvesting on the Great Barrier Reef supplies the international aquarium trade, with fishers permitted to take up to 190 tonnes of coral a year. The fishery is managed through two quota systems: individual transferrable quotas assigned to each fisher, and competitive "prescribed commercial catch" quotas that fishers race to fill. The reef's management is regularly assessed against its World Heritage obligations, and its health is among the most closely monitored of any reef system in the world.

Key Perspectives

Marine scientists: Reef ecologist Dr Morgan Pratchett says antler coral is not under threat, but any overharvesting sends a bad message given the overwhelming international scrutiny on how the industry is managed. Fisheries Queensland: Argues that exceeding a competitive quota is not "uncommon or unreasonable", while noting that breaking individual quotas can result in prosecution. It has declined to release the completed investigation's findings. Conservation groups: The Australian Marine Conservation Society is among those joining calls to rethink the harvest limits, pointing to the reef's international standing and existing EU import restrictions.

What to Watch

  • Whether Fisheries Queensland releases the outcome of its completed investigation into the antler coral overharvest.
  • Whether the 2024 assessment's proposed measures, including trip limits, increased notifications and more individual quotas, are adopted.
  • Whether continued quota breaches lead to further EU import restrictions or other trade consequences.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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