❓ Dr. Jacobs questions the Minister for Fisheries on the potential impact of Commonwealth sea lion closure zones on WA's fishing industry. The Minister responds by highlighting the sustainability of WA fisheries and criticising the proposed closures, arguing they would harm the domestic fish market and potentially negatively impact sea lion populations.
AnsweredQoN 826Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SHARK FISHERY — SEA
LIONS
826. Dr G.G. JACOBS to the Minister for
Fisheries:
Can the minister update the house on
the likely impact of the proposed commonwealth sea lion closure zones and the
effect they will have on the state's fishing industry?
LIONS
826. Dr G.G. JACOBS to the Minister for
Fisheries:
Can the minister update the house on
the likely impact of the proposed commonwealth sea lion closure zones and the
effect they will have on the state's fishing industry?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Eyre for his
question. This is an important issue for fishermen in his electorate because
obviously the temperate shark fishery goes all the way around to the South
Australian border. At a time when so many of the world's fisheries are
classed as either over-exploited or depleted, it is great that we can assure
the people of Western Australia that 95 per cent of our fisheries in WA are
assessed as sustainable, and the remaining five per cent, predominantly beyond
the impact of mankind through to natural events, are being managed obviously
because of the downturn in the fish stocks. Overwhelmingly, there is no other
place in Australia or indeed the world that takes ecologically sustainable
fishing practice as seriously as we do here in Western Australia, and I think
that is something we should all be proud of. However, some of our fisheries are
still losing productive fishing grounds for, shall we say, uncertain ecological
gains, and obviously the temperate shark fishery is one that is currently under
threat. Regarding the status of the Australian sea lion, it is an important
species; no-one doubts that. It is a protected species, with population
pressures. It is an important issue. There are somewhere around 10 000 to 14 000
sea lions between Western Australia and South Australia, with obviously
different numbers at different times.
Mr
D.J. Kelly : What are their names?
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : This is a serious issue and the member makes jokes about
their names—really?
The problem is that if the
commonwealth had its way and imposed 25-kilometre restrictions around the
breeding habitats of the sea lions, it would effectively shut down 25 000
square kilometres—one-third of that fishery. That fishery is vitally
important. None of that produce gets exported. It is all for the domestic
market, so when people go to buy fish and chips in their electorates, they are
predominantly buying fish that has come out of that fishery. We can only
imagine the cost pressure on domestic fish produce and seafood if one-third of
that fishery were to be shut down.
To put Australian sea lions into
another context, from 2007–08 to 2014–15—over those
seven years—the total accidental kill of sea lions by fishermen in
those fisheries was six. If we also take into consideration the likely impact
of sharks taking sea lions through the removal of one-third of the shark
fishery—because sharks eat sea lions—it would have a negative
impact on the population of sea lions. That is why I have taken up the fight
with the commonwealth. That is why I have written to the federal minister to
point out the significant environmental and economic issues with the proposal.
Interestingly also, the commonwealth does not have a plan to compensate
fishermen if it were to take away the livelihood of fishermen through the
combined effect of environmental policies. If we did that here in Western Australia,
at least we would buy back whatever licence or permit was issued. This is an
important issue for not just fishermen in the temperate shark fishery, but also
consumers of fish product in Western Australia, which is why the state
government is not prepared to stand by and allow the commonwealth to impose
these restrictions on our fishery. That is why I have asked the commonwealth to
reconsider its approach on this very important matter.
question. This is an important issue for fishermen in his electorate because
obviously the temperate shark fishery goes all the way around to the South
Australian border. At a time when so many of the world's fisheries are
classed as either over-exploited or depleted, it is great that we can assure
the people of Western Australia that 95 per cent of our fisheries in WA are
assessed as sustainable, and the remaining five per cent, predominantly beyond
the impact of mankind through to natural events, are being managed obviously
because of the downturn in the fish stocks. Overwhelmingly, there is no other
place in Australia or indeed the world that takes ecologically sustainable
fishing practice as seriously as we do here in Western Australia, and I think
that is something we should all be proud of. However, some of our fisheries are
still losing productive fishing grounds for, shall we say, uncertain ecological
gains, and obviously the temperate shark fishery is one that is currently under
threat. Regarding the status of the Australian sea lion, it is an important
species; no-one doubts that. It is a protected species, with population
pressures. It is an important issue. There are somewhere around 10 000 to 14 000
sea lions between Western Australia and South Australia, with obviously
different numbers at different times.
Mr
D.J. Kelly : What are their names?
Mr
J.M. FRANCIS : This is a serious issue and the member makes jokes about
their names—really?
The problem is that if the
commonwealth had its way and imposed 25-kilometre restrictions around the
breeding habitats of the sea lions, it would effectively shut down 25 000
square kilometres—one-third of that fishery. That fishery is vitally
important. None of that produce gets exported. It is all for the domestic
market, so when people go to buy fish and chips in their electorates, they are
predominantly buying fish that has come out of that fishery. We can only
imagine the cost pressure on domestic fish produce and seafood if one-third of
that fishery were to be shut down.
To put Australian sea lions into
another context, from 2007–08 to 2014–15—over those
seven years—the total accidental kill of sea lions by fishermen in
those fisheries was six. If we also take into consideration the likely impact
of sharks taking sea lions through the removal of one-third of the shark
fishery—because sharks eat sea lions—it would have a negative
impact on the population of sea lions. That is why I have taken up the fight
with the commonwealth. That is why I have written to the federal minister to
point out the significant environmental and economic issues with the proposal.
Interestingly also, the commonwealth does not have a plan to compensate
fishermen if it were to take away the livelihood of fishermen through the
combined effect of environmental policies. If we did that here in Western Australia,
at least we would buy back whatever licence or permit was issued. This is an
important issue for not just fishermen in the temperate shark fishery, but also
consumers of fish product in Western Australia, which is why the state
government is not prepared to stand by and allow the commonwealth to impose
these restrictions on our fishery. That is why I have asked the commonwealth to
reconsider its approach on this very important matter.
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