❓ Hon Rick Mazza asks the Minister for Fisheries about the potential sale of uncaught recreational fish quotas to the commercial sector and whether recreational bag limits would be increased. The Minister clarifies that current legislation doesn't allow direct sale but new legislation is considering resource reallocation options.
AnsweredQoN 950Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FISH
STOCKS — QUOTAS
950. Hon RICK MAZZA to the
Minister for Fisheries:
(1) Will the
minister please advise whether the government is giving consideration to
selling the uncaught recreational quota of fish stocks to the commercial
sector?
(2) If yes to
(1), has consideration been given to increasing the bag limit for recreational
fishers?
STOCKS — QUOTAS
950. Hon RICK MAZZA to the
Minister for Fisheries:
(1) Will the
minister please advise whether the government is giving consideration to
selling the uncaught recreational quota of fish stocks to the commercial
sector?
(2) If yes to
(1), has consideration been given to increasing the bag limit for recreational
fishers?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1) Both the
commercial and recreational fishing sectors have expressed interest in the
possibility of reallocation between the sectors of fishing rights held by the
respective sector. The Department of Fisheries has, in the past, explored
mechanisms that might be used to achieve this. However, there is no means under
the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 by which the recreational catch share
can be ''sold'' to the commercial sector, or vice versa. Unfished
catch share remains in the water to benefit the fishery in future years. The
question of allocation and reallocation of catch share between sectors has been
considered in the drafting of the new aquatic resources management bill, and
provisions have been included that will provide a range of options to allow
reallocation of resources between sectors.
(2) Although
this question is not applicable, I note with specific reference to the west
coast rock lobster resource that, in recent years, the recreational bag, boat,
possession and pot usage limits have all been increased to improve the
opportunity for recreational fishers to take the five per cent share of the
WCRL resource allocated under integrated fisheries management.
honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1) Both the
commercial and recreational fishing sectors have expressed interest in the
possibility of reallocation between the sectors of fishing rights held by the
respective sector. The Department of Fisheries has, in the past, explored
mechanisms that might be used to achieve this. However, there is no means under
the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 by which the recreational catch share
can be ''sold'' to the commercial sector, or vice versa. Unfished
catch share remains in the water to benefit the fishery in future years. The
question of allocation and reallocation of catch share between sectors has been
considered in the drafting of the new aquatic resources management bill, and
provisions have been included that will provide a range of options to allow
reallocation of resources between sectors.
(2) Although
this question is not applicable, I note with specific reference to the west
coast rock lobster resource that, in recent years, the recreational bag, boat,
possession and pot usage limits have all been increased to improve the
opportunity for recreational fishers to take the five per cent share of the
WCRL resource allocated under integrated fisheries management.
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