A Western Australian parliamentary question addresses the newly announced recreational fishing license fees, questioning their definition, use of funds, justification, and impact on sustainable fishing. The Minister responds by referencing the Fish Resources Management Act, outlining revenue allocation, and comparing fees to other jurisdictions.

AnsweredQoN 735Legislative Council
Asked
12 August 2009
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENCE FEES
I refer to the recently announced recreational fishing licence fees. (1) Can the minister explain how these fees can be defined as a licence fee and not a tax? (2) How are the funds from such a licensing structure to be used in achieving a 50 per cent reduction in the fishing effort in the west coast bio region? (3) What are the detailed estimates and assumptions used to justify the new licence fees? (4) Can the minister give details and management plans of strategies that the fees will support to contribute to sustainable fishing in Western Australia. (5) Can the minister give examples of comparable fees in other jurisdictions and their effectiveness at reducing the fishing effort? (6) What input will the recreational sector have into how this fund will be allocated? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(1) Can the minister explain how these fees can be defined as a licence fee and not a tax? (2) How are the funds from such a licensing structure to be used in achieving a 50 per cent reduction in the fishing effort in the west coast bio region? (3) What are the detailed estimates and assumptions used to justify the new licence fees? (4) Can the minister give details and management plans of strategies that the fees will support to contribute to sustainable fishing in Western Australia. (5) Can the minister give examples of comparable fees in other jurisdictions and their effectiveness at reducing the fishing effort? (6) What input will the recreational sector have into how this fund will be allocated? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(2) How are the funds from such a licensing structure to be used in achieving a 50 per cent reduction in the fishing effort in the west coast bio region? (3) What are the detailed estimates and assumptions used to justify the new licence fees? (4) Can the minister give details and management plans of strategies that the fees will support to contribute to sustainable fishing in Western Australia. (5) Can the minister give examples of comparable fees in other jurisdictions and their effectiveness at reducing the fishing effort? (6) What input will the recreational sector have into how this fund will be allocated? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(3) What are the detailed estimates and assumptions used to justify the new licence fees? (4) Can the minister give details and management plans of strategies that the fees will support to contribute to sustainable fishing in Western Australia. (5) Can the minister give examples of comparable fees in other jurisdictions and their effectiveness at reducing the fishing effort? (6) What input will the recreational sector have into how this fund will be allocated? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(4) Can the minister give details and management plans of strategies that the fees will support to contribute to sustainable fishing in Western Australia. (5) Can the minister give examples of comparable fees in other jurisdictions and their effectiveness at reducing the fishing effort? (6) What input will the recreational sector have into how this fund will be allocated? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(5) Can the minister give examples of comparable fees in other jurisdictions and their effectiveness at reducing the fishing effort? (6) What input will the recreational sector have into how this fund will be allocated? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(6) What input will the recreational sector have into how this fund will be allocated? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(1) The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 provides for the licensing of persons engaged in recreational fishing activities and further provides for the setting of fees for the issue of recreational fishing authorisations. As such, the licence fee is defined by the act as a fee rather than a tax. (2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(2) Licensing revenue will assist in more effective community education, research and compliance programs. The revenue will also be directed towards ongoing monitoring to enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the new management measures. (3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(3) The government expects to collect up to an additional $4 million in licensing revenue to support important education, research and compliance programs referred to in more detail below. (4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(4) The new licensing arrangements for recreational fishing are aimed at achieving multiple objectives. These are influencing the amount of fishing effort for west coast demersal scalefish; providing a database of boat-based recreational fishers; increasing levels of research and monitoring; delivering higher levels of compliance servicing; improving education awareness programs; and funding enhancement projects for recreational fishing, including stocking programs. (5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(5) The new statewide recreational boat fishing licence will cost $30 a year. This compares with $30 a year in New South Wales and $24.50 a year in Victoria for a general recreational fishing licence. We have not developed a one-size fits all system, but have directly targeted specific fishing activities. For instance, one of the objectives of the west coast demersal scalefish licence is to influence the amount of fishing effort and catch. This is not a key objective of recreational fishing licence schemes in other jurisdictions. (6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.
(6) The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, established under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provides the minister with advice on recreational fishing, funding priorities and other issues. These arrangements will continue to apply pending the finalisation of the consultation reforms that are being progressed with the recreational fishing sector.

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