ACT Government has today contacted CAA to bring these significant changes to our attention.
The ACT has recently made changes to fishing rules under the Fisheries Act 2000 through two new Fisheries Declarations. You can view the instruments on the ACT Legislation Register at
Fisheries (Fishing Closures) Declaration 2022
Fisheries (Recreational Fishing) Declaration 2022
Summary of provisions
Fisheries (Recreational Fishing) Declaration 2022
Change to the take limit for Golden Perch
The new instrument amends the take limit for Golden Perch.
This instrument reduces the take limit for Golden Perch in the Murrumbidgee River from five to two per day. The Golden Perch population in the Murrumbidgee River has been shown to be in decline in recent surveys. Lowering the take limit to two per day in the Murrumbidgee River will offer increased protection from fishing pressure to this population.
The take limit of five will continue to apply in lakes and impoundments, as these populations are supplemented by government stocking regimes.
Change to take limits for Murray Cod
Murray Cod provisions in the new Recreational Fishing Declaration will replace provisions in the previous Fisheries Prohibition and Declaration.
The new instrument introduces a “no take” or “catch and release” area for Murray Cod in the section of the Murrumbidgee River from Uriarra Crossing to the ACT–NSW border. The wild populations in this reach are likely to come under increased pressure from recreational fishing activity due to new nearby residential developments increasing access and the volume of fishing activity. This will place this population at greater risk of decline.
Note that the take of Murray Cod per person will remain at no more than two fish in any one day in permitted waters other than the Murrumbidgee River, where take limit is one per day, including urban lakes and ponds that have been stocked with Murray Cod.
Fisheries (Fishing Closures) Declaration 2022
Changes to definitions
Definition of open waters
Open waters are waters in which fishing is permitted in accordance with the Fisheries Prohibition and Declaration. The definition of open waters has been amended to mean ‘any public waters that are not prohibited waters or trout waters’.
This change means that open waters is now the default classification for all waters; for example, if a creek or tributary is not included in a declaration, it will be considered to be open waters for the purposes of the Fisheries Act.
Definition of prohibited waters
The definition of prohibited waters has been amended to add parts of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve, including areas where fishing is not allowed under the reserve’s plan of management.
The definition has also been amended to add all waters within Canberra Nature Park nature reserves where fishing is prohibited, as described in the Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan as in force from time to time. This does not include Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve.
The definition has also been amended to remove mention of the Orroral River; this waterway has been redefined as trout waters.
Definition of trout waters
The definition of trout waters includes the Gudgenby River and its catchment and tributaries; the Naas River and its catchment and tributaries; Paddys River and its catchment and tributaries; Condor Creek and its catchment and tributaries; Cotter River and its catchment, and tributaries downstream of Bendora Dam to the junction with Condor Creek; the Molonglo River above its junction with the Queanbeyan River to the ACT border; and the Orroral River and its tributaries. The Orroral River was previously declared as prohibited waters.
In previous instruments, ‘trout waters’ was the default classification. This amendment has been made to avoid waters inadvertently being declared as trout waters. Trout waters are managed differently from ‘open waters’ to protect fish during breeding and minimise take through being closed from the taking of any fish for a specified period each year and having fishing gear restrictions. Due to these added restrictions, it is considered more appropriate to have open waters as the default declaration.