A WA parliamentary question addresses the undermining of a shark fishing moratorium by foreign vessels and seeks enhanced coastal surveillance. The Minister confirms the issue and outlines planned discussions with the federal government.

AnsweredQoN 607Legislative Council
Asked
13 September 2005
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the seizure of two Indonesian fishing vessels caught in Australian waters with shark fins on board, and the subsequent towing of the vessels to Broome by a fisheries patrol vessel. (1) Is the minister’s 20-year moratorium on shark fishing in the area by Western Australian fishing boats being undermined by foreign vessels, as predicted by many professional fishermen? (2) Will the minister raise this issue with the federal government and emphasise the need for enhanced coastal surveillance as a matter of urgency to stop the illegal fishing, which could make the moratorium useless as a conservation measure? Hon JON FORD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, it is undermining the moratorium. It was also predicted by many commercial and recreational fishermen and my agency. (2) Yes. At the invitation of the federal government, the state government is sending a delegation to meet with federal representatives on Thursday. Proposals for enhanced coastal surveillance will be exchanged. The delegation will bring up all the issues mentioned by the member. The meeting will also be attended by the Northern Territory’s fisheries minister and a delegation from Queensland. Hon Bruce Donaldson : Are you going? Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.
(1) Is the minister’s 20-year moratorium on shark fishing in the area by Western Australian fishing boats being undermined by foreign vessels, as predicted by many professional fishermen? (2) Will the minister raise this issue with the federal government and emphasise the need for enhanced coastal surveillance as a matter of urgency to stop the illegal fishing, which could make the moratorium useless as a conservation measure? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, it is undermining the moratorium. It was also predicted by many commercial and recreational fishermen and my agency. (2) Yes. At the invitation of the federal government, the state government is sending a delegation to meet with federal representatives on Thursday. Proposals for enhanced coastal surveillance will be exchanged. The delegation will bring up all the issues mentioned by the member. The meeting will also be attended by the Northern Territory’s fisheries minister and a delegation from Queensland. Hon Bruce Donaldson : Are you going? Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.
(2) Will the minister raise this issue with the federal government and emphasise the need for enhanced coastal surveillance as a matter of urgency to stop the illegal fishing, which could make the moratorium useless as a conservation measure? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, it is undermining the moratorium. It was also predicted by many commercial and recreational fishermen and my agency. (2) Yes. At the invitation of the federal government, the state government is sending a delegation to meet with federal representatives on Thursday. Proposals for enhanced coastal surveillance will be exchanged. The delegation will bring up all the issues mentioned by the member. The meeting will also be attended by the Northern Territory’s fisheries minister and a delegation from Queensland. Hon Bruce Donaldson : Are you going? Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, it is undermining the moratorium. It was also predicted by many commercial and recreational fishermen and my agency. (2) Yes. At the invitation of the federal government, the state government is sending a delegation to meet with federal representatives on Thursday. Proposals for enhanced coastal surveillance will be exchanged. The delegation will bring up all the issues mentioned by the member. The meeting will also be attended by the Northern Territory’s fisheries minister and a delegation from Queensland. Hon Bruce Donaldson : Are you going? Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, it is undermining the moratorium. It was also predicted by many commercial and recreational fishermen and my agency. (2) Yes. At the invitation of the federal government, the state government is sending a delegation to meet with federal representatives on Thursday. Proposals for enhanced coastal surveillance will be exchanged. The delegation will bring up all the issues mentioned by the member. The meeting will also be attended by the Northern Territory’s fisheries minister and a delegation from Queensland. Hon Bruce Donaldson : Are you going? Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.
(1) Yes, it is undermining the moratorium. It was also predicted by many commercial and recreational fishermen and my agency. (2) Yes. At the invitation of the federal government, the state government is sending a delegation to meet with federal representatives on Thursday. Proposals for enhanced coastal surveillance will be exchanged. The delegation will bring up all the issues mentioned by the member. The meeting will also be attended by the Northern Territory’s fisheries minister and a delegation from Queensland. Hon Bruce Donaldson : Are you going? Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.
(2) Yes. At the invitation of the federal government, the state government is sending a delegation to meet with federal representatives on Thursday. Proposals for enhanced coastal surveillance will be exchanged. The delegation will bring up all the issues mentioned by the member. The meeting will also be attended by the Northern Territory’s fisheries minister and a delegation from Queensland. Hon Bruce Donaldson : Are you going? Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.
Hon Bruce Donaldson : Are you going? Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.
Hon JON FORD : I had originally been paired to go with the delegation. However, I feel that I have spent enough time away from the house and I also have carriage of a number of bills. The delegation from Western Australia will be led by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Federal Affairs, Ms Margaret Quirk.

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