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Declared Fish Habitat Areas (FHAs)

On this page:

• What are declared Fish Habitat Areas?
• Are declared FHAs closed to fishing and boating?
• Why are declared FHAs necessary?
• How are declared FHAs protected?
• What type of area would be suitable for FHA declaration?
• Why does the declared FHA network focus on inshore and estuarine habitats?
• What areas are included in a declared FHA network?
• Where are declared FHAs? 
• How are declared FHA managed?
• Are declared FHAs effective?
• Is the public consulted before a new FHA is declared?
• Where can I get more information?

What are declared Fish Habitat Areas?

Declared Fish Habitat Areas (FHAs) currently give protection to inshore and estuarine fish habitats that are important for sustaining local and regional fisheries.

Once an area is declared as a FHA, it equally protects all habitat types (e.g. vegetation, sand bars and rocky headlands) from direct physical disturbance and coastal development.

Download a copy of the FHA Information Leaflet ( PDF 35 kB).

Are declared FHAs closed to fishing and boating?

No. A declared FHA is a form of "multiple-use" marine protected area, protecting natural fish habitats from alteration and degradation while allowing for community use, including a continuation of legal fishing and boating activities.

Why are declared FHAs necessary?

The declared FHA program arose out of a need to counter the growing impacts of coastal development on Queensland's fisheries. The aim is to provide long-term protection for a network of fish habitats that are essential to sustaining these fisheries.

DPI&F is responsible for the sustainable management of fisheries in Queensland, and the declaration and management of declared FHAs is a key element of its management strategy.

Queensland's tropical and subtropical coastal waters support an extensive, diverse and unique aquatic ecosystem. With the majority of Queensland’s human population living on the coastal fringe, this ecosystem is an integral component of the Queensland culture, lifestyle and economy.

The State’s recreational, commercial and traditional fishing sectors, and therefore the seafood consuming public, are dependent on this ecosystem to provide an ongoing, sustainable source of fish, crustaceans and other targeted marine species.

However, the population that depends on this ecosystem also puts it under pressure in various ways. Including:

• overfishing,
• habitat disturbance,
• pollution, and
• introduction of exotic pests.

How are declared FHAs protected?

Declared FHAs are protected by the Fisheries Act 1994  which restricts development activities. Works in a declared Fish Habitat Area must be supported by a Resource Allocation Authority issued under the Fisheries Act 1994, and require a fisheries development approval under the Integrated Planning Act 1997  ( PDF 1.83MB). The categories for which an approval for works in declared Fish Habitat Area may be issued are known as 'prescribed declared fish habitat area development purposes' and are specified in the Fisheries Regulation 1995 ( PDF 1.87MB).

What type of area would be suitable for FHA declaration?

When deciding whether an area of fish habitat is suitable for declaration as a declared FHA, Fisheries officers consider the following:

Fisheries criteria

• Fish species richness
• Presence and abundance of regionally targeted species
• Level of existing fisheries within the area
• Links between the area and external or regional fisheries

Habitat criteria

• Size
• Diversity of habitat types
• Presence of a functioning riparian buffer zone (riverbank)
• Degree of disturbance from instream artificial structures e.g. jetties
• Water quality
• Existing disturbance from water impoundment structures
• Expected future disturbance
• Compatibility with state and local government plans

Unique features

• Presence of regionally unique fish habitat features  

The candidate area is assessed against standards for each of the above criteria, with the overall rating providing an indicator of the area’s suitability for declaration as an FHA.

Why does the declared FHA network focus on inshore and estuarine habitats?

The network focus is driven by community and environmental factors. Including:

• Approximately 75% of all commercial seafood landed in Queensland is from species dependent on estuarine habitats during part or all of their life cycle. 
• A significant proportion of species targeted by recreational and traditional fishers are estuarine-dependent.
• Approximately 85% of Queensland’s human population live in the coastal zone, directly adjacent to these important habitats. This places significant existing and potential pressures on these habitats through alteration, reclamation and pollution.
• Many of the highly diverse offshore fish habitats, such as coral reefs and deep water seagrass communities are outside Queensland’s jurisdiction and are already provided with protection under Commonwealth legislation.

What areas are included in a declared FHA network?

There are currently 71 declared FHAs along the Queensland coast, providing protection for approximately 800 000 hectares of high quality fish habitat.  In addition, DPI&F has two FHA proposals which could add an additional 50 000 hectares of key fish habitats to this network.

Table 1. Analysis of the area of declared FHAs within each Queensland coastal geographic region in hectares (ha).

Declared FHA gazetted plans show the boundary and extent of each FHA. 

How are declared FHAs managed?

DPI&F has developed two levels of management for declared FHAs, each of which may be applied to the entire declared FHA or to zones within a declared FHA.

• Management level 'A' is used for locations where very strict management arrangements can be achieved.
• Management level 'B' is used for locations where existing or planned uses require a more flexible management approach.

Table 2 provides a summary of the works or activities (other than normal community use) that may be authorised within each level of declared FHA management. This summary is provided for general information only. Any approval application is considered on its individual merit.

Are declared FHAs effective?

The 37 year program has seen many key fish habitats protected and has sustained inshore and estuarine fisheries. The benefits have accrued to commercial, recreational and indigenous fishers.

Although the specific intent of Queensland’s declared FHA network is to help sustain Queensland’s fisheries, it is broadly acknowledged that the protection of these estuarine and inshore habitats also provides significant general marine conservation benefits.

Is the public consulted before a new FHA is declared?

Yes. DPI&F undertakes extensive community and stakeholder consultation associated with the proposed declaration of a declared FHA. The consultation occurs over a period of 12 months to two years, depending on the complexity of issues to be considered, and follows a standardised, transparent process.

DPI&F consultation is intended to inform the community and stakeholders of:

• the value of the area for local or regional fisheries;
• the benefits and restrictions of declared FHA management; and
•  the declared FHA management options available.

DPI&F consultation also gathers information on:

• existing and planned uses within and adjacent to the area;
• the suitability of the proposed boundary locations and management level(s); and
• the overall level of support for the proposal.

At least two opportunities for community and stakeholder input are available as part of every declared FHA consultation process. The outcomes of the consultation process as an integral part of the recommendation to proceed with declaration.

Declaration of a FHA requires amendment of the Fisheries Regulation 1995 by the Executive Council of the Queensland Government (Cabinet).

Declared FHA proposals generally receive broad community support, given that legal fishing continues and that boundaries to coastal development are clearly defined.

Where can I get more information?

• For a copy of the Fish Habitat Management Operational Policy: Fish Habitat Area selection assessment FHMOP 007, Fish Habitat Management Operational Policy: Fish Habitat Area declaration and review FHMOP 006 please go to the fish habitat policies page or call DPI&F on 13 25 23.
  
• Copies of legislation can be downloaded directly at the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel website.
  To access legislation on the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel website, click on the 'Legislation' tab and select the appropriate alphabetical directory. For example, select the 'F' directory and scroll down to find the Fisheries Act 1994.
  
• For an example of a local management plan that considers development and land use within a declared Fish Habitat Area, view the Noosa River Plan  on the Noosa Shire Council website.

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Last updated 19 April 2007