Hon Jon Ford asks the Minister for Fisheries about the viability of self-regulation within the commercial fishing industry. Hon Norman Moore expresses skepticism, citing the need for independent regulation to ensure sustainable fisheries.

AnsweredQoN 612Legislative Council
Asked
4 June 2009
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
Does the minister agree with the view of some Western Australian commercial fishers that self-regulation from within the industry is a valid or viable option for fisheries management in WA? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the question; perhaps I could ask him the same one. The issue he raised has not been put to me in any formal sense. The notion of self-regulation of our fisheries by the commercial sector does not inspire me at present, bearing in mind that, as the member well knows, management of the commercial fishing sector is a very significant and necessary part of the work of the Department of Fisheries because creating and maintaining sustainable fisheries requires a significant amount of regulation. The regulation has to be independent. To allow the commercial fishing industry to self-regulate could potentially create problems down the track, bearing in mind that not all commercial fishermen have the same view as the Minister for Fisheries and the former Minister for Fisheries on sustainable fisheries.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for the question; perhaps I could ask him the same one. The issue he raised has not been put to me in any formal sense. The notion of self-regulation of our fisheries by the commercial sector does not inspire me at present, bearing in mind that, as the member well knows, management of the commercial fishing sector is a very significant and necessary part of the work of the Department of Fisheries because creating and maintaining sustainable fisheries requires a significant amount of regulation. The regulation has to be independent. To allow the commercial fishing industry to self-regulate could potentially create problems down the track, bearing in mind that not all commercial fishermen have the same view as the Minister for Fisheries and the former Minister for Fisheries on sustainable fisheries.
I thank the member for the question; perhaps I could ask him the same one. The issue he raised has not been put to me in any formal sense. The notion of self-regulation of our fisheries by the commercial sector does not inspire me at present, bearing in mind that, as the member well knows, management of the commercial fishing sector is a very significant and necessary part of the work of the Department of Fisheries because creating and maintaining sustainable fisheries requires a significant amount of regulation. The regulation has to be independent. To allow the commercial fishing industry to self-regulate could potentially create problems down the track, bearing in mind that not all commercial fishermen have the same view as the Minister for Fisheries and the former Minister for Fisheries on sustainable fisheries.

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