❓ Hon Jon Ford asks the Minister for Fisheries about assistance for rock lobster industry members affected by catch restrictions. Hon Norman Moore responds, citing low puerulus counts and global economic circumstances, but offers no specific assistance package, instead highlighting reduced fishing costs and expressing hope for future stock recovery.
AnsweredQoN 355Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY — catch restrictions
I refer to the previously announced rock lobster management restrictions brought forward in the current season. Has the minister reconsidered whether he will work with the rock lobster industry to negotiate an industry assistance package to help struggling industry members from losing their livelihoods and homes? Hon NORMAN MOORE
I refer to the previously announced rock lobster management restrictions brought forward in the current season. Has the minister reconsidered whether he will work with the rock lobster industry to negotiate an industry assistance package to help struggling industry members from losing their livelihoods and homes? Hon NORMAN MOORE
AnswerView source ↗
The situation in the fisheries industry is similar to that in the mining industry due to the global economic circumstances. For inexplicable reasons, the puerulus count for rock lobster has been at record lows, as the member knows. I am still awaiting advice on why the scientists think that is the case. As a result, I made some decisions to, in fact, increase the impost on the industry begun by my predecessor, who must have had similar concerns about the future of the industry. As a result of that, additional reductions were made in effort at the beginning of the season. The intention was to reduce the catch to 7 800 tonnes this season. The situation arose during the season in which fishermen were looking at catching more than 9 000 tonnes, with a very significantly reduced effort. It was necessary, therefore, to bring in further reductions in effort to ensure that the catch was about the 7 800 tonne mark. That, as I understand it, is the way in which the industry is tracking at present. The situation in the fishery is that there has been a reduced amount of costs to fishermen to actually fish, because they are fishing for four days a week now instead of seven or six under the previous minister’s proposal, so the cost of doing business has been reduced. The cost of diesel has come down significantly since the previous season, and the catch is still what we anticipated it would be, and as determined at the beginning of the year. I am doing my best to make sure this fishery survives. I look forward with great interest in May, June or July to finding out what the puerulus count will be in those months in the hope that this year was an aberration. If it is not, I have to say that the future of the fishery is bleak. That means, regrettably, that some people will not be able to remain in the industry because it will not be viable. That is regrettable. It is not caused by the government but by factors unknown to me. I continue to monitor the situation and I say my prayers every night in the hope that, in the coming months, the puerulus count will be up to what it used to be. If my prayers are answered, that will be fantastic.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: The situation in the fisheries industry is similar to that in the mining industry due to the global economic circumstances. For inexplicable reasons, the puerulus count for rock lobster has been at record lows, as the member knows. I am still awaiting advice on why the scientists think that is the case. As a result, I made some decisions to, in fact, increase the impost on the industry begun by my predecessor, who must have had similar concerns about the future of the industry. As a result of that, additional reductions were made in effort at the beginning of the season. The intention was to reduce the catch to 7 800 tonnes this season. The situation arose during the season in which fishermen were looking at catching more than 9 000 tonnes, with a very significantly reduced effort. It was necessary, therefore, to bring in further reductions in effort to ensure that the catch was about the 7 800 tonne mark. That, as I understand it, is the way in which the industry is tracking at present. The situation in the fishery is that there has been a reduced amount of costs to fishermen to actually fish, because they are fishing for four days a week now instead of seven or six under the previous minister’s proposal, so the cost of doing business has been reduced. The cost of diesel has come down significantly since the previous season, and the catch is still what we anticipated it would be, and as determined at the beginning of the year. I am doing my best to make sure this fishery survives. I look forward with great interest in May, June or July to finding out what the puerulus count will be in those months in the hope that this year was an aberration. If it is not, I have to say that the future of the fishery is bleak. That means, regrettably, that some people will not be able to remain in the industry because it will not be viable. That is regrettable. It is not caused by the government but by factors unknown to me. I continue to monitor the situation and I say my prayers every night in the hope that, in the coming months, the puerulus count will be up to what it used to be. If my prayers are answered, that will be fantastic.
The situation in the fisheries industry is similar to that in the mining industry due to the global economic circumstances. For inexplicable reasons, the puerulus count for rock lobster has been at record lows, as the member knows. I am still awaiting advice on why the scientists think that is the case. As a result, I made some decisions to, in fact, increase the impost on the industry begun by my predecessor, who must have had similar concerns about the future of the industry. As a result of that, additional reductions were made in effort at the beginning of the season. The intention was to reduce the catch to 7 800 tonnes this season. The situation arose during the season in which fishermen were looking at catching more than 9 000 tonnes, with a very significantly reduced effort. It was necessary, therefore, to bring in further reductions in effort to ensure that the catch was about the 7 800 tonne mark. That, as I understand it, is the way in which the industry is tracking at present. The situation in the fishery is that there has been a reduced amount of costs to fishermen to actually fish, because they are fishing for four days a week now instead of seven or six under the previous minister’s proposal, so the cost of doing business has been reduced. The cost of diesel has come down significantly since the previous season, and the catch is still what we anticipated it would be, and as determined at the beginning of the year. I am doing my best to make sure this fishery survives. I look forward with great interest in May, June or July to finding out what the puerulus count will be in those months in the hope that this year was an aberration. If it is not, I have to say that the future of the fishery is bleak. That means, regrettably, that some people will not be able to remain in the industry because it will not be viable. That is regrettable. It is not caused by the government but by factors unknown to me. I continue to monitor the situation and I say my prayers every night in the hope that, in the coming months, the puerulus count will be up to what it used to be. If my prayers are answered, that will be fantastic.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: The situation in the fisheries industry is similar to that in the mining industry due to the global economic circumstances. For inexplicable reasons, the puerulus count for rock lobster has been at record lows, as the member knows. I am still awaiting advice on why the scientists think that is the case. As a result, I made some decisions to, in fact, increase the impost on the industry begun by my predecessor, who must have had similar concerns about the future of the industry. As a result of that, additional reductions were made in effort at the beginning of the season. The intention was to reduce the catch to 7 800 tonnes this season. The situation arose during the season in which fishermen were looking at catching more than 9 000 tonnes, with a very significantly reduced effort. It was necessary, therefore, to bring in further reductions in effort to ensure that the catch was about the 7 800 tonne mark. That, as I understand it, is the way in which the industry is tracking at present. The situation in the fishery is that there has been a reduced amount of costs to fishermen to actually fish, because they are fishing for four days a week now instead of seven or six under the previous minister’s proposal, so the cost of doing business has been reduced. The cost of diesel has come down significantly since the previous season, and the catch is still what we anticipated it would be, and as determined at the beginning of the year. I am doing my best to make sure this fishery survives. I look forward with great interest in May, June or July to finding out what the puerulus count will be in those months in the hope that this year was an aberration. If it is not, I have to say that the future of the fishery is bleak. That means, regrettably, that some people will not be able to remain in the industry because it will not be viable. That is regrettable. It is not caused by the government but by factors unknown to me. I continue to monitor the situation and I say my prayers every night in the hope that, in the coming months, the puerulus count will be up to what it used to be. If my prayers are answered, that will be fantastic.
The situation in the fisheries industry is similar to that in the mining industry due to the global economic circumstances. For inexplicable reasons, the puerulus count for rock lobster has been at record lows, as the member knows. I am still awaiting advice on why the scientists think that is the case. As a result, I made some decisions to, in fact, increase the impost on the industry begun by my predecessor, who must have had similar concerns about the future of the industry. As a result of that, additional reductions were made in effort at the beginning of the season. The intention was to reduce the catch to 7 800 tonnes this season. The situation arose during the season in which fishermen were looking at catching more than 9 000 tonnes, with a very significantly reduced effort. It was necessary, therefore, to bring in further reductions in effort to ensure that the catch was about the 7 800 tonne mark. That, as I understand it, is the way in which the industry is tracking at present. The situation in the fishery is that there has been a reduced amount of costs to fishermen to actually fish, because they are fishing for four days a week now instead of seven or six under the previous minister’s proposal, so the cost of doing business has been reduced. The cost of diesel has come down significantly since the previous season, and the catch is still what we anticipated it would be, and as determined at the beginning of the year. I am doing my best to make sure this fishery survives. I look forward with great interest in May, June or July to finding out what the puerulus count will be in those months in the hope that this year was an aberration. If it is not, I have to say that the future of the fishery is bleak. That means, regrettably, that some people will not be able to remain in the industry because it will not be viable. That is regrettable. It is not caused by the government but by factors unknown to me. I continue to monitor the situation and I say my prayers every night in the hope that, in the coming months, the puerulus count will be up to what it used to be. If my prayers are answered, that will be fantastic.
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