Reminder: Coral Reef Fin Fish Off Limits

This is the second of two annual closures that protect these fish during spawning season.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) district officer Dan Stampa said the closures were vital to protect fish at an important time in their life cycle.

"The closures coincide with the new moon when key commercially-fished coral reef fish species aggregate to spawn," he said.

Mr Stampa said QBFP officers will be out patrolling Queensland waters over the spawning season.

"Fishers need to remember that they should not take and possess coral reef fin fish species during the closure period," he said.

"Officers conduct regular patrols of these areas and those found doing the wrong thing are risking an on-the-spot fine of A$440 and a maximum penalty of A$110,000."

The closures are in place from the tip of Cape York in the north, to Bundaberg in the south (the southern boundary is at latitude 2450'S).

The eastern boundary of the closure is the same as the eastern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.