SCALLOP lovers and commercial fishers alike are celebrating the reopening of Queensland’s saucer scallop fishery across two major harvest areas following years of closures aimed at rebuilding stocks.
The Queensland Government confirmed scallop fishing has resumed in the central and southern offshore regions under a tightly controlled, adaptive management framework, with the changes taking effect from March 1, 2026.
The long-awaited reopening follows extensive consultation with industry and the community in late 2025, alongside an independent survey that assessed more than 450 sampling sites across the southern inshore, southern offshore and central regions.
The findings helped shape a new five-year rebuilding strategy designed to restore scallop stocks while allowing a carefully managed return to commercial harvesting.
Under the plan, fishing will be permitted in the central region with a total allowable commercial catch (TACC) of 167,776kg, while the southern offshore region will operate under a TACC of 248,609kg.
Strict possession limits and reporting requirements will also apply, including a 3,500kg cap in the central region and mandatory catch reporting before landing.
However, the southern inshore region will remain closed, with survey results showing scallop biomass is still below 20 per cent of sustainable levels.
Fisheries authorities say the staged reopening strikes a balance between supporting the commercial fishing industry and ensuring long-term sustainability of the fishery.
As part of the rollout, trawl fishers across the state are being offered one-on-one training to support the introduction of new online reporting tools, with further regional training sessions planned later this year.
The reopening marks a significant step in the recovery of the saucer scallop (Ylistrum balloti) fishery, which is also tied to maintaining export approvals under national wildlife trade requirements.
Authorities say ongoing monitoring and compliance will be critical, with adaptive management settings allowing catch limits and access to be adjusted in response to future stock assessments.
For now, it’s a welcome return for an industry and seafood lovers eager to see Queensland scallops back on the menu while keeping a close eye on sustainability.
