A 2026 government initiative will install cameras on most Queensland trawl vessels to monitor fishing activities along the Great Barrier Reef. This electronic monitoring aims to improve reporting of bycatch and ensure sustainable practices. The system combines cameras, sensors, and AI to verify catches and protect threatened species.
The Great Barrier Reef faces the ongoing challenge of balancing commercial fishing with conservation efforts. Trawling, particularly prawn trawling, ranks as one of Queensland's most valuable wild-catch fisheries, but it risks capturing non-target species such as sea turtles, sawfish, rays, and sea snakes—many of which face environmental pressures.
To address concerns over accurate reporting, electronic monitoring, or e-monitoring, introduces high-definition cameras, sensors, and satellite tracking on vessels. These systems mount above decks and near net drums, activating automatically during gear deployment or retrieval. The footage stores for analysis and compares against fishers' logbooks to provide a clearer view of catches.
Announced for 2026, the initiative will equip about 90 percent of Queensland trawl vessels—over 160 boats operating along the east coast—with cameras. Jointly funded by state and federal governments, it seeks to bolster sustainability credentials and maintain trawlers' access to the Marine Park. This builds on existing tools like satellite tracking and bycatch-reduction devices, such as turtle-exclusion equipment, while aiding compliance with international export and environmental standards.
The technology offers scientific benefits, allowing reviews of interactions with threatened, endangered, and protected (TEP) species to refine bycatch estimates and improve gear or handling practices. However, analyzing vast video volumes manually proves costly, so researchers employ artificial intelligence. Machine-learning tools train to identify species, tally catches, and highlight risks, cutting analysis time and broadening coverage.
Supporters view cameras as a win-win, safeguarding marine wildlife and the fishing industry through verified sustainable data for eco-certification and consumer confidence. Yet operators express worries over privacy, expenses, and footage usage. Conservation groups call the rollout too gradual and urge expansion to all vessels in sensitive Reef areas. As technology evolves, this monitoring sharpens transparency in commercial trawling, vital for protecting the Reef while supporting sustainable fishing.