Conservationists welcome gillnet fishing ban in Great Barrier Reef world heritage area

The federal environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced the $160m plan on Monday afternoonFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe federal and Queensland governments will phase out commercial gillnet fishing in the Great Barrier Reef world heritage area by mid-2027 and create new net-free zones to better protect endangered marine species.The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced the $160m plan Monday afternoon and said it would significantly reduce net fishing and high-risk fishing on the reef that injure and kill threatened dugongs, turtles, dolphins and protected shark species.Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...