❓ Hon Rick Mazza questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding regulations limiting fish catches and their potential impact on discarding fish frames, nutritional value, and fish stocks. The Minister's response indicates awareness and defends the regulations' sustainability benefits.
AnsweredQoN 460Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FISH
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS 1995
460. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to recent changes to the Fish Resources Management
Regulations 1995 that limit fishers to one of three combinations of catch
limits —
(a) 20 kilograms of fillets;
(b) 10 kilograms of fillets or
pieces of fish, plus one day's bag limit of whole fish; or
(c) two days' bag limit of
whole fish.
If, under the regulations, the fish frame is retained—that
is, the head, tail, wings and skeleton from which the fillets are taken—then
the combined weight of the fillets and the frame cannot exceed the 20 and 10
kilogram fillet limits for (a) and (b) respectively. Given that it is human
nature for a fisher to maximise his or her catch, I ask —
(1) Is the
minister aware that the changes have resulted in fishers commonly discarding
the fish frame and now taking only the fillets in order to remain within the
regulations?
(2) Is the minister aware of the health, nutritional and cultural
value of this valuable food source?
(3) What are the detrimental impacts to fish stocks and the
marine environment of these limitations?
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS 1995
460. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to recent changes to the Fish Resources Management
Regulations 1995 that limit fishers to one of three combinations of catch
limits —
(a) 20 kilograms of fillets;
(b) 10 kilograms of fillets or
pieces of fish, plus one day's bag limit of whole fish; or
(c) two days' bag limit of
whole fish.
If, under the regulations, the fish frame is retained—that
is, the head, tail, wings and skeleton from which the fillets are taken—then
the combined weight of the fillets and the frame cannot exceed the 20 and 10
kilogram fillet limits for (a) and (b) respectively. Given that it is human
nature for a fisher to maximise his or her catch, I ask —
(1) Is the
minister aware that the changes have resulted in fishers commonly discarding
the fish frame and now taking only the fillets in order to remain within the
regulations?
(2) Is the minister aware of the health, nutritional and cultural
value of this valuable food source?
(3) What are the detrimental impacts to fish stocks and the
marine environment of these limitations?
AnswerView source ↗
The Department of Fisheries advises as follows —
(1) The
fisheries possession limits to which Hon Rick Mazza referred as ''recently''
introduced were introduced in October 2003. The 20 kilograms personal
possession of fillets or pieces of fish equates to approximately 100 meals of
fish. Since its introduction around 10 years ago, there has been a high level
of compliance with this measure.
(2) Yes.
(3) This measure contributes to the sustainable management of
the state's fish resources.
(1) The
fisheries possession limits to which Hon Rick Mazza referred as ''recently''
introduced were introduced in October 2003. The 20 kilograms personal
possession of fillets or pieces of fish equates to approximately 100 meals of
fish. Since its introduction around 10 years ago, there has been a high level
of compliance with this measure.
(2) Yes.
(3) This measure contributes to the sustainable management of
the state's fish resources.
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