NSW on Wednesday joined Victoria to ban recreational fishing of the near-threatened eastern blue groper, known for its friendly and inquisitive nature and interactions with swimmers and divers along the coast.
Spearfishing and commercial fishing has been outlawed in NSW for decades.
But four recent high-profile spearfishing deaths, including a 40-year-old groper nicknamed Gus by Cronulla locals in Sydney's south, highlighted meagre penalties and gaps in their protection.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said prohibiting line fishing would improve compliance by creating the same rules for all recreational fishers and enhance the protection of the "beautiful, big, well-loved" fish.
Social media reminders and other education will be rolled out to increase awareness of responsible fishing practices.
Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty says the "well-loved" fish species must be protected. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)
Industry stakeholders will be consulted during a one-year trial of the ban, she said.
Opposition leader Mark Speakman welcomed the increased protections of the "Labradors of the sea" but wanted the government to explain why it had not reviewed the "inadequate $800 fine" imposed on Gus's killer.
"Banning line fishing will do nothing to stop the main problem - spearfishers illegally targeting gropers and being slapped with pathetic fines," Mr Speakman said.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party MP Mark Banasiak said the rule change was based on emotion.
"If I call a snapper 'Sammy' or a trevally 'Trevor' are you going to ban them as well?" he asked the minister on Wednesday.
He described the number of gropers officially recorded as caught in 2021/22 - 387 individuals - as "not really a huge recreational catch".
About 160 were estimated to have been retained by fishers.
But the minister said she was responding to community sentiment and departmental advice and was proud to protect the state fish.
"This blue groper fish is of particular importance to the people of NSW - it is our state fish," Ms Moriarty said.
"People have said it's a knee-jerk reaction - it certainly isn't."
Like other protected species, any of the state's 390,000 recreational fishers pulling up a blue groper would not be punished if they returned the fish to the water, she said.
Cultural fishing will remain lawful.
Sutherland Shire's Liberal Mayor Carmelo Pesce, a frontrunner to replace the retiring Scott Morrison in federal parliament, this week called for a protected marine reserve to be established off the Cronulla peninsula.
He soon backtracked, as well as watering down his earlier call to ban spearfishing across nearby Port Hacking.
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