❓ A parliamentary question regarding the impact of the West Coast Demersal Scalefish (Interim) Management Plan 2007, specifically the exclusion zone's effect on retail fish prices and availability. The Minister's response focuses on sustainability and clarifies the limited impact of the closure, attributing price increases to factors predating the plan.
AnsweredQoN 28Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WEST COAST DEMERSAL SCALEFISH (INTERIM) MANAGEMENT PLAN 2007 — EFFECTS
I made a mistake in the preamble provided to the minister, but that was my fault in putting things across to my office. With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian metropolitan consumers with their category 1 fish requirements — (1) Has any monitoring been done, or is any monitoring being done, to ascertain the impact on retail outlets selling fish to the public? (2) Have prices of fillets of dhufish and snapper risen since the exclusion zone began operating? (3) If so, by how much? (4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD
I made a mistake in the preamble provided to the minister, but that was my fault in putting things across to my office. With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian metropolitan consumers with their category 1 fish requirements — (1) Has any monitoring been done, or is any monitoring being done, to ascertain the impact on retail outlets selling fish to the public? (2) Have prices of fillets of dhufish and snapper risen since the exclusion zone began operating? (3) If so, by how much? (4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(1) Has any monitoring been done, or is any monitoring being done, to ascertain the impact on retail outlets selling fish to the public? (2) Have prices of fillets of dhufish and snapper risen since the exclusion zone began operating? (3) If so, by how much? (4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(2) Have prices of fillets of dhufish and snapper risen since the exclusion zone began operating? (3) If so, by how much? (4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(3) If so, by how much? (4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(1) Has any monitoring been done, or is any monitoring being done, to ascertain the impact on retail outlets selling fish to the public? (2) Have prices of fillets of dhufish and snapper risen since the exclusion zone began operating? (3) If so, by how much? (4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(2) Have prices of fillets of dhufish and snapper risen since the exclusion zone began operating? (3) If so, by how much? (4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(3) If so, by how much? (4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(4) What replacement species of fish are being used in restaurants and fish and chip shops? (5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
(5) Are we now relying more heavily on imports from Asia of seafood for Western Australian consumers? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
I thank Hon Bruce Donaldson for some notice of this question. My response is to the member’s original preamble, which states — With the exclusion zone for commercial fishermen in the Lancelin to Mandurah area, which provided approximately 80 per cent of Western Australian consumers with their fish requirements — (1)-(5) The metropolitan area commercial closure applies to only two fisheries: the west coast demersal scalefish fishery, and the west coast demersal gillnet and longline fishery. That is to say that there is still the rock lobster, the sardine and the other fisheries. These closures amount to approximately 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish and shark by commercial fishers, which is well short of the 80 per cent claimed by the member. Again, that is referring to the original preamble. It is only 3.6 per cent of the statewide catch of demersal scalefish. In fact, most of the demersal scalefish in Perth come from the Pilbara trawl. Both of the affected fisheries catch a suite of high-value demersal species, including Western Australian dhufish and pink snapper. The findings from the Department of Fisheries’ recent research, completed in late 2007, on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast bioregion—WA dhufish and pink snapper—indicate that the key indicator species are significantly overfished; and, secondly, that total fishing mortality must be reduced by at least 50 per cent in the short term to ensure that catches of demersal scalefish are returned to sustainable levels. My principal concern as the Minister for Fisheries remains sustainability, and my decisions were based primarily on ensuring the future of these iconic species. The Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring fish prices and regularly reports to my office. However, fresh local line-caught demersal scalefish have always been significantly more expensive than other high-volume and imported fish species. Although the department has observed that the retail price of dhufish and pink snapper has increased over the past 18 months, most of that increase took place before any announcements about the wetline review outlines, the metropolitan area commercial closure, or the research findings on the stock status of the key demersal scalefish indicator species for the west coast, and as such was well ahead of the commencement of the closure on 15 November 2007. The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
The main point with regard to this matter is that the Western Australian fishery has been lucky in that because of Western Australia’s isolation, the population of Western Australia has been fairly small. Of course, the population has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is now increasing exponentially as the resource sector ramps up. The other issue is that the Western Australian fisheries generally have a lower fish density than the fisheries on the east coast. That is to say that the marine environment in Western Australia cannot support X number of fishermen in an area at the same levels as can be sustained by fisheries on the east coast. However, even on the east coast one fishery after another has been fished out and has collapsed. That is the main reason that we have taken this action. There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
There has been a steady increase in the amount of imported fish. All sorts of factors have contributed to that increase, including free trade agreements, and a payoff for our market penetration into the Asian markets and now into Europe, where we have been pretty successful. Therefore, over the years fewer and fewer Western Australian prize fish will become available, because they will all go to other markets, and we will receive replacement fish species. Therefore, if we do not take this action now, we will not have any fish species in the future.
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