The NSW Government will introduce sweeping new powers for Fisheries Officers this week in a bid to crack down on the illegal trade in seafood including abalone, rock lobster and mud crabs.

The proposed laws are designed to target black market seafood sales, strengthen protection for marine habitats and give Fisheries Officers greater powers to investigate suspected illegal fishing activity.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the reforms represented the biggest overhaul of fisheries enforcement powers in years and would help protect both commercial fishers and the state’s valuable marine resources.

If passed by Parliament, the Fisheries Management Amendment (Enforcement) Bill 2026 will allow Fisheries Officers to take action against people who knowingly buy illegally caught seafood, question owners of vessels suspected of being involved in illegal fishing, require suspected offenders to identify themselves and inspect seafood being transported or sold by mobile vendors to ensure it has been legally sourced.

The legislation also includes tougher penalties for offences involving aquaculture, with fines of up to $44,000 for stealing stock or damaging aquaculture infrastructure.

The government says the changes are aimed at disrupting black market seafood supply chains while improving the long-term sustainability of NSW fisheries.

The reforms follow an independent review of fisheries compliance powers commissioned after Fisheries Officers raised concerns about their ability to safely carry out enforcement duties.

As part of the package, the government is recruiting eight supervising and district Fisheries Officers, along with up to 11 new first-year officers to be stationed across NSW.

Aboe – A NSW Fisheries patrol vessel.  Main photo: Fisheries officers inspecting and measuring catch at Sydney Fish Market (Images: NSW DPI)

The government will also introduce a separate regulation requiring commercial fishing licence applicants to pass a “fit and proper person” test, including a National Police Check.

Under the new rules, licences could be refused, suspended or cancelled for people convicted of serious offences, including violence, fraud, organised crime offences or serious fishing-related crimes.

Minister Moriarty said the reforms would help protect honest commercial fishers while safeguarding NSW’s fisheries for future generations.

“The Minns Government is putting in place a stronger and better way of protecting our valuable fisheries resources such as abalone, lobster and mud crabs,” she said.

Ms Moriaty said Fisheries Officers needed modern enforcement powers to safely carry out their work on waterways, beaches, wharves and roads across the state.

NSW’s aquaculture industry has an annual farm gate value of $107 million, contributes almost $250 million to the state’s economy and supports about 2,200 jobs along the coast.