❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Western Rock Lobster Management Plan and the allocation of Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) across different zones, particularly Zone C, and the Minister's response addressing concerns about financial disadvantage and the harvest strategy determination.
AnsweredQoN 824Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER MANAGEMENT PLAN
824. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the Minister for
Fisheries:
I refer to the finalisation of the
western rock lobster management plan and the forthcoming rock lobster season,
commencing 15 January 2013.
(1) Can the
minister explain why the total allowable commercial catch in zone C will be
approximately 30 per cent less than in other zones?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that the long-term historical catch comparison between zones A
and B and zone C is approximately 50–50?
(3) Given that
there is no change in the TACC for each zone in the new western rock lobster management
plan, does the minister acknowledge that zone C rock lobster fishers will be
significantly disadvantaged financially relative to fishers in northern zones?
(4) Will the
minister explain how the new rock lobster harvest strategy was determined by the
Department of Fisheries?
824. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the Minister for
Fisheries:
I refer to the finalisation of the
western rock lobster management plan and the forthcoming rock lobster season,
commencing 15 January 2013.
(1) Can the
minister explain why the total allowable commercial catch in zone C will be
approximately 30 per cent less than in other zones?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that the long-term historical catch comparison between zones A
and B and zone C is approximately 50–50?
(3) Given that
there is no change in the TACC for each zone in the new western rock lobster management
plan, does the minister acknowledge that zone C rock lobster fishers will be
significantly disadvantaged financially relative to fishers in northern zones?
(4) Will the
minister explain how the new rock lobster harvest strategy was determined by the
Department of Fisheries?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1) The TACC for
zone C is not 30 per cent less than that for the other two zones. The zone C
TACC is 2 557 tonnes and the combined TACC for zones A and B is 2 997 tonnes.
This means that zone C's TACC accounts for 46 per cent of the total
TACC, while those for the two northern zones account for 54 per cent. These
figures were proposed by the Western Rock Lobster Council having regard to the
maximum sustainable catch for each zone recommended by the Department of
Fisheries.
(2) The long-term
historical average catch split between zone C and the northern zones is
approximately 50–50. However, this varies on a year-to-year basis
according to the abundance of legally available lobsters in each zone. Zone C
has historically experienced more significant year-to-year catch variations
than the two northern zones because puerulus settlement, which affects lobster
abundance three to four years hence, is subject to greater fluctuations than in
the north of the fishery.
(3) Under input
controls, fishers' proportion of the total annual rock lobster catch
was determined by the abundance of legally available lobsters in their zone of
access. The relative financial return to fishers in each zone varied
accordingly. As the 2013 TACCs were set based on the abundance of legally
available lobsters in each zone, any difference in the relative financial
return to each zone is consistent with what has occurred in the past. However,
this is the TACC that was recommended by the Western Rock Lobster Council. As
the recommendation fell within the sustainability guidelines for the fishery, I
agreed.
(4) The
department released a discussion paper in March on a possible harvest strategy
for the fishery. Public meetings were held at various locations to get feedback
from fishers, licensees and investors in the industry. The proposed harvest
strategy was based around a precautionary management approach that also
provided industry with a degree of flexibility to consider marketing or other
industry issues. The Western Rock Lobster Council subsequently agreed to use
the broad principles contained in this discussion paper as the basis for
setting TACCs for 2013, pending the development of a longer-term harvest
strategy. The 2013 TACCs reflect the position adopted by the Western Rock
Lobster Council.
some notice of this question.
(1) The TACC for
zone C is not 30 per cent less than that for the other two zones. The zone C
TACC is 2 557 tonnes and the combined TACC for zones A and B is 2 997 tonnes.
This means that zone C's TACC accounts for 46 per cent of the total
TACC, while those for the two northern zones account for 54 per cent. These
figures were proposed by the Western Rock Lobster Council having regard to the
maximum sustainable catch for each zone recommended by the Department of
Fisheries.
(2) The long-term
historical average catch split between zone C and the northern zones is
approximately 50–50. However, this varies on a year-to-year basis
according to the abundance of legally available lobsters in each zone. Zone C
has historically experienced more significant year-to-year catch variations
than the two northern zones because puerulus settlement, which affects lobster
abundance three to four years hence, is subject to greater fluctuations than in
the north of the fishery.
(3) Under input
controls, fishers' proportion of the total annual rock lobster catch
was determined by the abundance of legally available lobsters in their zone of
access. The relative financial return to fishers in each zone varied
accordingly. As the 2013 TACCs were set based on the abundance of legally
available lobsters in each zone, any difference in the relative financial
return to each zone is consistent with what has occurred in the past. However,
this is the TACC that was recommended by the Western Rock Lobster Council. As
the recommendation fell within the sustainability guidelines for the fishery, I
agreed.
(4) The
department released a discussion paper in March on a possible harvest strategy
for the fishery. Public meetings were held at various locations to get feedback
from fishers, licensees and investors in the industry. The proposed harvest
strategy was based around a precautionary management approach that also
provided industry with a degree of flexibility to consider marketing or other
industry issues. The Western Rock Lobster Council subsequently agreed to use
the broad principles contained in this discussion paper as the basis for
setting TACCs for 2013, pending the development of a longer-term harvest
strategy. The 2013 TACCs reflect the position adopted by the Western Rock
Lobster Council.
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