❓ A WA parliamentary question highlights the threat of illegal fishing to the Bardi community's trochus shell industry at One Arm Point and criticises the federal government's lack of support in addressing the issue.
AnsweredQoN 448Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TROCHUS SHELL INDUSTRY - ONE ARM POINT
Is the minister aware of the article in The Australian newspaper yesterday regarding the trochus shell industry at One Arm Point? Is the minister aware of any threats to this industry? Ms M.M. QUIRK
Is the minister aware of the article in The Australian newspaper yesterday regarding the trochus shell industry at One Arm Point? Is the minister aware of any threats to this industry? Ms M.M. QUIRK
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kimberley for her question and for her strong advocacy for the people on the Dampier Peninsula. I did read the terrific article in yesterday’s The Australian newspaper, in particular, about the achievements of the Bardi people at One Arm Point who are working very hard to develop a sustainable trochus industry within their community. The traditional practice of fishing these waters for trochus shells has become a successful commercial enterprise in recent years and an integral part of the community’s financial structure. There has been a concerted effort by the community to advance this industry and end the reliance on welfare. I am pleased to note the Western Australian Department of Fisheries’ assistance in establishing this aquaculture industry. However, despite this good work, expansion of the industry is under threat due to illegal fishermen plundering trochus stocks. Of particular concern is the poaching of immature stocks, prohibiting the opportunity for future harvests. Since October last year, 12 foreign fishing vessels have been apprehended within state waters, from which 124 fishermen have been convicted. The state government has recently introduced a bill containing tough new penalties for repeat offenders who have been undeterred as a result of federal government inaction over this matter in recent years. The state Minister for Fisheries, Hon Jon Ford, has instructed his department to redeploy one of its patrol vessels to One Arm Point and establish joint patrols with the Bardi community to protect their valuable trochus stocks. It is estimated that up to $100 000 in lost earnings is absorbed by the community each year because of illegal fishing in this area. The community’s chief executive officer has called on the federal government to compensate the community for these losses after failing to meet its constitutional obligation to secure our borders. However, the federal fisheries minister, Mr Eric Abetz, has told the community by letter that the federal government will not accept liability for any past losses and if the people want to pursue the matter, they will have to prove their claim of specific negligence in a court of law. This legalistic stance shows up as mere rhetoric the federal government’s claims of wanting to assist remote Aboriginal communities to alleviate poverty. Here is a community that has taken significant steps to build a viable industry and end its dependency on welfare, but it is being frustrated by illegal fishermen and a federal government not willing to take responsibility.
Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Kimberley for her question and for her strong advocacy for the people on the Dampier Peninsula. I did read the terrific article in yesterday’s The Australian newspaper, in particular, about the achievements of the Bardi people at One Arm Point who are working very hard to develop a sustainable trochus industry within their community. The traditional practice of fishing these waters for trochus shells has become a successful commercial enterprise in recent years and an integral part of the community’s financial structure. There has been a concerted effort by the community to advance this industry and end the reliance on welfare. I am pleased to note the Western Australian Department of Fisheries’ assistance in establishing this aquaculture industry. However, despite this good work, expansion of the industry is under threat due to illegal fishermen plundering trochus stocks. Of particular concern is the poaching of immature stocks, prohibiting the opportunity for future harvests. Since October last year, 12 foreign fishing vessels have been apprehended within state waters, from which 124 fishermen have been convicted. The state government has recently introduced a bill containing tough new penalties for repeat offenders who have been undeterred as a result of federal government inaction over this matter in recent years. The state Minister for Fisheries, Hon Jon Ford, has instructed his department to redeploy one of its patrol vessels to One Arm Point and establish joint patrols with the Bardi community to protect their valuable trochus stocks. It is estimated that up to $100 000 in lost earnings is absorbed by the community each year because of illegal fishing in this area. The community’s chief executive officer has called on the federal government to compensate the community for these losses after failing to meet its constitutional obligation to secure our borders. However, the federal fisheries minister, Mr Eric Abetz, has told the community by letter that the federal government will not accept liability for any past losses and if the people want to pursue the matter, they will have to prove their claim of specific negligence in a court of law. This legalistic stance shows up as mere rhetoric the federal government’s claims of wanting to assist remote Aboriginal communities to alleviate poverty. Here is a community that has taken significant steps to build a viable industry and end its dependency on welfare, but it is being frustrated by illegal fishermen and a federal government not willing to take responsibility.
I thank the member for Kimberley for her question and for her strong advocacy for the people on the Dampier Peninsula. I did read the terrific article in yesterday’s The Australian newspaper, in particular, about the achievements of the Bardi people at One Arm Point who are working very hard to develop a sustainable trochus industry within their community. The traditional practice of fishing these waters for trochus shells has become a successful commercial enterprise in recent years and an integral part of the community’s financial structure. There has been a concerted effort by the community to advance this industry and end the reliance on welfare. I am pleased to note the Western Australian Department of Fisheries’ assistance in establishing this aquaculture industry. However, despite this good work, expansion of the industry is under threat due to illegal fishermen plundering trochus stocks. Of particular concern is the poaching of immature stocks, prohibiting the opportunity for future harvests. Since October last year, 12 foreign fishing vessels have been apprehended within state waters, from which 124 fishermen have been convicted. The state government has recently introduced a bill containing tough new penalties for repeat offenders who have been undeterred as a result of federal government inaction over this matter in recent years. The state Minister for Fisheries, Hon Jon Ford, has instructed his department to redeploy one of its patrol vessels to One Arm Point and establish joint patrols with the Bardi community to protect their valuable trochus stocks. It is estimated that up to $100 000 in lost earnings is absorbed by the community each year because of illegal fishing in this area. The community’s chief executive officer has called on the federal government to compensate the community for these losses after failing to meet its constitutional obligation to secure our borders. However, the federal fisheries minister, Mr Eric Abetz, has told the community by letter that the federal government will not accept liability for any past losses and if the people want to pursue the matter, they will have to prove their claim of specific negligence in a court of law. This legalistic stance shows up as mere rhetoric the federal government’s claims of wanting to assist remote Aboriginal communities to alleviate poverty. Here is a community that has taken significant steps to build a viable industry and end its dependency on welfare, but it is being frustrated by illegal fishermen and a federal government not willing to take responsibility.
Since October last year, 12 foreign fishing vessels have been apprehended within state waters, from which 124 fishermen have been convicted. The state government has recently introduced a bill containing tough new penalties for repeat offenders who have been undeterred as a result of federal government inaction over this matter in recent years. The state Minister for Fisheries, Hon Jon Ford, has instructed his department to redeploy one of its patrol vessels to One Arm Point and establish joint patrols with the Bardi community to protect their valuable trochus stocks. It is estimated that up to $100 000 in lost earnings is absorbed by the community each year because of illegal fishing in this area. The community’s chief executive officer has called on the federal government to compensate the community for these losses after failing to meet its constitutional obligation to secure our borders. However, the federal fisheries minister, Mr Eric Abetz, has told the community by letter that the federal government will not accept liability for any past losses and if the people want to pursue the matter, they will have to prove their claim of specific negligence in a court of law. This legalistic stance shows up as mere rhetoric the federal government’s claims of wanting to assist remote Aboriginal communities to alleviate poverty. Here is a community that has taken significant steps to build a viable industry and end its dependency on welfare, but it is being frustrated by illegal fishermen and a federal government not willing to take responsibility.
Ms M.M. QUIRK replied: I thank the member for Kimberley for her question and for her strong advocacy for the people on the Dampier Peninsula. I did read the terrific article in yesterday’s The Australian newspaper, in particular, about the achievements of the Bardi people at One Arm Point who are working very hard to develop a sustainable trochus industry within their community. The traditional practice of fishing these waters for trochus shells has become a successful commercial enterprise in recent years and an integral part of the community’s financial structure. There has been a concerted effort by the community to advance this industry and end the reliance on welfare. I am pleased to note the Western Australian Department of Fisheries’ assistance in establishing this aquaculture industry. However, despite this good work, expansion of the industry is under threat due to illegal fishermen plundering trochus stocks. Of particular concern is the poaching of immature stocks, prohibiting the opportunity for future harvests. Since October last year, 12 foreign fishing vessels have been apprehended within state waters, from which 124 fishermen have been convicted. The state government has recently introduced a bill containing tough new penalties for repeat offenders who have been undeterred as a result of federal government inaction over this matter in recent years. The state Minister for Fisheries, Hon Jon Ford, has instructed his department to redeploy one of its patrol vessels to One Arm Point and establish joint patrols with the Bardi community to protect their valuable trochus stocks. It is estimated that up to $100 000 in lost earnings is absorbed by the community each year because of illegal fishing in this area. The community’s chief executive officer has called on the federal government to compensate the community for these losses after failing to meet its constitutional obligation to secure our borders. However, the federal fisheries minister, Mr Eric Abetz, has told the community by letter that the federal government will not accept liability for any past losses and if the people want to pursue the matter, they will have to prove their claim of specific negligence in a court of law. This legalistic stance shows up as mere rhetoric the federal government’s claims of wanting to assist remote Aboriginal communities to alleviate poverty. Here is a community that has taken significant steps to build a viable industry and end its dependency on welfare, but it is being frustrated by illegal fishermen and a federal government not willing to take responsibility.
I thank the member for Kimberley for her question and for her strong advocacy for the people on the Dampier Peninsula. I did read the terrific article in yesterday’s The Australian newspaper, in particular, about the achievements of the Bardi people at One Arm Point who are working very hard to develop a sustainable trochus industry within their community. The traditional practice of fishing these waters for trochus shells has become a successful commercial enterprise in recent years and an integral part of the community’s financial structure. There has been a concerted effort by the community to advance this industry and end the reliance on welfare. I am pleased to note the Western Australian Department of Fisheries’ assistance in establishing this aquaculture industry. However, despite this good work, expansion of the industry is under threat due to illegal fishermen plundering trochus stocks. Of particular concern is the poaching of immature stocks, prohibiting the opportunity for future harvests. Since October last year, 12 foreign fishing vessels have been apprehended within state waters, from which 124 fishermen have been convicted. The state government has recently introduced a bill containing tough new penalties for repeat offenders who have been undeterred as a result of federal government inaction over this matter in recent years. The state Minister for Fisheries, Hon Jon Ford, has instructed his department to redeploy one of its patrol vessels to One Arm Point and establish joint patrols with the Bardi community to protect their valuable trochus stocks. It is estimated that up to $100 000 in lost earnings is absorbed by the community each year because of illegal fishing in this area. The community’s chief executive officer has called on the federal government to compensate the community for these losses after failing to meet its constitutional obligation to secure our borders. However, the federal fisheries minister, Mr Eric Abetz, has told the community by letter that the federal government will not accept liability for any past losses and if the people want to pursue the matter, they will have to prove their claim of specific negligence in a court of law. This legalistic stance shows up as mere rhetoric the federal government’s claims of wanting to assist remote Aboriginal communities to alleviate poverty. Here is a community that has taken significant steps to build a viable industry and end its dependency on welfare, but it is being frustrated by illegal fishermen and a federal government not willing to take responsibility.
Since October last year, 12 foreign fishing vessels have been apprehended within state waters, from which 124 fishermen have been convicted. The state government has recently introduced a bill containing tough new penalties for repeat offenders who have been undeterred as a result of federal government inaction over this matter in recent years. The state Minister for Fisheries, Hon Jon Ford, has instructed his department to redeploy one of its patrol vessels to One Arm Point and establish joint patrols with the Bardi community to protect their valuable trochus stocks. It is estimated that up to $100 000 in lost earnings is absorbed by the community each year because of illegal fishing in this area. The community’s chief executive officer has called on the federal government to compensate the community for these losses after failing to meet its constitutional obligation to secure our borders. However, the federal fisheries minister, Mr Eric Abetz, has told the community by letter that the federal government will not accept liability for any past losses and if the people want to pursue the matter, they will have to prove their claim of specific negligence in a court of law. This legalistic stance shows up as mere rhetoric the federal government’s claims of wanting to assist remote Aboriginal communities to alleviate poverty. Here is a community that has taken significant steps to build a viable industry and end its dependency on welfare, but it is being frustrated by illegal fishermen and a federal government not willing to take responsibility.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.