According to Fisheries snapper stocks in SEQ have been in decline since records were kept commencing in 1946. There has been reduction in bag limits (unlimited to 30 and to 5 in 2002) and increase in size limits (no size to 30cm and to 35cm in 2002). These regulation changes only halted the decline for two to three years immediately after the changes were made.
According to Fisheries researchers Artificial reefs only concentrate snapper in a few areas making them easier to target and, Snapper farming and restocking is working in Japan but is not viable in SEQ due to the higher water temp.
With the population of SEQ expected to double over the next 20 to 30 years the only way to rebuild snapper stocks is to cap the quantity taken each year. The quantity can be expressed in tonnes or in numbers (i.e. 400 tonnes or 400,000 kilos or 250,000 snapper based on average size of 1.6 kilos). There may be a need in future to move to regional management (e.g. Gold Coast; Moreton Bay; Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast)
The 400 tonnes was Fisheries best estimate as a starting point. This can be reviewed after the first few years when more accurate catch figures are known.
Cheers
Barry