Barramundi fishery and licences

The annual commercial barramundi fishing season in the Northern Territory (NT) is from 1 February to 30 September.

You must have a licence to commercially fish for barramundi in the NT.

Licences

The fishery is restricted to 14 licences which can be bought, sold and leased. All are currently allocated.

Read more about buying, selling or leasing a commercial licence.

Fishing area

Commercial fishing for barramundi is allowed from the high water mark to 3 nautical miles seaward of the low water mark.

The fishing area is restricted to waters seaward from the coast, river mouths and legislated closed lines.

Commercial fishers must not fish between the Little Finnis River and the Wildman River.

This includes the Bynoe Harbour, Darwin Harbour and Shoal Bay and Kakadu National Park.

Permission is needed to enter Aboriginal land and water, including for commercial fishers. Permission to fish in Aboriginal waters is granted through Section 19 Land Use Agreements managed by the Northern Land Council (NLC).

For more information, go to the Northern Land Council website.

As part of the threatened, endangered and protected species strategy, the use of commercial gill netting gear and techniques is not allowed in:

• Coopers creek
• East Alligator river.

This area is an important habitat, and is closed to commercial fishing to lessen impacts on species like:

• River sharks
• Sawfish.

Commercial barramundi fishers may not fish or anchor within the Dugong Protection Area in the south-western Gulf of Carpentaria.

To find out more about the inland boundaries and closure lines, read the Barramundi Fishery Management Plan 1998.

Barramundi Fishery Status Report 2025

NT Fisheries closely monitor fishing activities.

To find out more, read the Barramundi Fishery Status Report 2025.

Barramundi Fishery Status Report 2025 PDF (103.5 KB)
Barramundi Fishery Status Report 2025 DOCX (53.0 KB)

Fishing method

Commercial operators fish using monofilament gill nets.

Nets are set and retrieved from dinghies and fish are processed onboard motherships.

Each licence is allowed a maximum of 1000m of gill net and spare net may be stored on board vessels.

The maximum gill-net mesh size is 180mm or 7 inches within the fishery.

Catch

Barramundi and king threadfin are the primary species taken in the barramundi fishery.

Barramundi are generally large enough at three years of age to be caught in a 150mm gill net, and fishers target barramundi that are usually three to eight years old.

A number of byproduct species are also taken which commonly include black jewfish, blacktip shark, blue threadfin and queenfish.

Vessel limits restrict the take of golden snapper, black jewfish and shark.

Barramundi fishery reform

The NT Government has committed to removing commercial gillnets from the Barramundi Fishery and introducing new management arrangements.

Fishery adjustment and fishery reform processes will run at the same time. While they are linked, they are managed separately and progress at different stages.

Fishery adjustment

Focuses on supporting commercial gillnet operators to transition out of the fishery. This includes work on:

• valuation
• transition support
• implementation arrangements.

Details of the adjustment are managed through government processes and are not subject to public consultation.

Fishery reform

Focuses on the future of the Barramundi fishery. This includes:

• setting objectives
• access arrangements
• management rules that will apply once gillnets are removed.

It involves stakeholder engagement and public consultation.

Reform process timeline

2025

• The Barramundi Fishery Advisory Group (BFAG) is established.
• Research into alternate gear use in the fishery begins.

2026

• A Fishery Adjustment Committee is formed to guide development of an adjustment approach, including governance and engagement with affected licence holders.
• BFAG series of meetings to set future objectives and develop options for new management arrangements.
  Alternative fishing gear trials begin, with ongoing involvement from industry and Traditional Owners.
• Public updates are provided as work progresses.

2027

• The final commercial Barramundi gillnet fishing season runs from 1 February to 30 September 2027.
• Subject to government decisions, the fishery adjustment scheme is implemented from 1 July 2027.
• A proposed new management framework is released for public consultation.
• BFAG reviews feedback and provides final advice to government.
• Legislative approval processes are progressed.

From 1 January 2028

• New legislation and management arrangements for the Barramundi Fishery come into effect.

Staying informed

Public updates will be provided throughout the reform process, including during key milestones such as:

• consultation periods and
• major decisions.

Opportunities for public input will be clearly advertised.