Commercial fishers say it is a case of 'Big Brother gone too far' as the Queensland Government pushes ahead with plans to implement 'real time' tracking devices on every commercial boat and dinghy.

With the January 1 deadline looming, fishers are up in arms over the plan to introduce Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS).

The tracking units are part of the Government's commitment to the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy, which aims to collect data in order to monitor fishing sites and enforce compliance on regulations.

But David Caracciolo from Mackay Reef Fish Supplies said fishers were sick of being treated like criminals.

"The fishermen have had enough; they're sick of having things rammed down their throats," he said.

"With net-free zones, different closures, restrictions [and] we're going through a reform process at the moment.

"These guys are mentally stressed now, these things get to a point where they just give up."

David Caracciolo says the level of regulations on fishers is frustrating. ( ABC Rural: David Sparkes )

Deputy director of the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, Claire Andersen, said trawler operators who had used Vessel Monitoring Systems for the past 15 years were evidence it could work successfully.

"It's been able to clearly demonstrate that they are having minimal impact on the ecosystem," she said.

"It also helps them demonstrate where they were at a certain time so if there are concerns about noncompliance, they can clearly say 'well, here's where I was at a certain time'."

Cost of being monitored

A draft policy and guidelines were released earlier this year and in response to concerns the Government provided a $3 million rebate scheme to assist with the one-off installation cost.

However, Cardwell mackerel fishermen Allan Bobberman has accused the department of misrepresenting the complexity and the cost of the VMS.

Under the new regulations, all commercial boats must have GPS trackers (file photo). ( Supplied: Des Woolford )

Under the plan, fishers will be forced into contracts with service providers nominated by the department who will charge them for the ongoing polling, or monitoring, of the data.

Queensland Fisheries says that will only cost $30 to $40 a month, but Mr Bobberman said that amount would be multiplied by the number of entitlements and tenders being operated by the fisher.

"Speaking to the service providers, they've told us in no uncertain terms [that] those polling costs are going to balloon," he said.

"This is one of the biggest fears fishermen have.

"The department has blatantly refused to do any sort of cost analysis, they don't even know what [the] impact on industry is going to be."

Fisheries Queensland say they have no plans to back down.

Ms Andersen said fishers needed to be ordering and installing their units now to be ready for their next fishing season.

"Fisheries Queensland has been very genuine in wanting to understand what peoples concerns are," she said.

"The Government has been very clear for almost 18 months about its intent to roll out vessel tracking."