❓ A parliamentary question regarding a rejected fish trap proposal in the Gascoyne region, addressing potential conflicts of interest, bycatch quotas, and consultation processes. The Minister's response clarifies the handling of the conflict of interest, explains the quota increase in relation to historical catch data, and details the consultation process with industry bodies and the subsequent public release of the proposal.
AnsweredQoN 3902Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to
the fish trap proposal for a demersal scalefish fishery in the Gascoyne Region, which the Minister decided against supporting, and
ask: (a) was there a conflict of interest with the proposal between a ministerial staffer and one of the commercial licensee’s project managers; (b) will the Minister explain why, even though the region is classed as "medium risk area", the department has increased the total bycatch quota by close to 100 tonnes in the past year, in line with the introduction of the fish traps; and (c) why was the proposal not listed on the department’s "open for comment" section of the website until after the initial closing date for comment?
the fish trap proposal for a demersal scalefish fishery in the Gascoyne Region, which the Minister decided against supporting, and
ask: (a) was there a conflict of interest with the proposal between a ministerial staffer and one of the commercial licensee’s project managers; (b) will the Minister explain why, even though the region is classed as "medium risk area", the department has increased the total bycatch quota by close to 100 tonnes in the past year, in line with the introduction of the fish traps; and (c) why was the proposal not listed on the department’s "open for comment" section of the website until after the initial closing date for comment?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 May 2016
Responded by
Attorney General representing the Minister for Fisheries
Response time
50 days
The Department of Fisheries advises:
(a) I understand that the potential perception of a conflict of interest was dealt with by the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s conflict of interest declaration processes. I am informed that the officer concerned was excluded from deliberations concerning the demersal scalefish fishery in the Gascoyne Region and this will continue for any related matters in the future.
(b) On 1 September 2015, the non-pink snapper component of the Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery was brought under quota management for the first time. Prior to the introduction of quota the non-pink snapper catch in the fishery ranged between 133 tonnes and 504 tonnes since 2002-03. The combined species quota for non-pink snapper demersal scalefish has been set at 228 tonnes, which is 25% below the predicted sustainable commercial harvest level to provide for a precautionary approach to management. While a quota of 228 tonnes allowed for a level of growth in the commercial catch over recent years, it is below the long-term average catch of non-pink snapper demersal scalefish in the Gascoyne.
(c) Government has entered into an agreement with Recfishwest as the peak representative body for recreational fishing in Western Australia, and the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council as the peak representative body for commercial fishing in Western Australia, to undertake consultation and provide consolidated advice to Government on behalf of the recreational and commercial fishing sectors respectively. The industry proposal to trial fish traps in the Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery was provided to Recfishwest and the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council on 25 January 2016 for an agreed 28 day consultation period. Due to the level of community interest in regard to the proposal, the initial consultation period was extended by two weeks and the industry proposal was published on the Department of Fisheries website on 23 February 2016 to give the community broader access to the details of the proposal.
(a) I understand that the potential perception of a conflict of interest was dealt with by the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s conflict of interest declaration processes. I am informed that the officer concerned was excluded from deliberations concerning the demersal scalefish fishery in the Gascoyne Region and this will continue for any related matters in the future.
(b) On 1 September 2015, the non-pink snapper component of the Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery was brought under quota management for the first time. Prior to the introduction of quota the non-pink snapper catch in the fishery ranged between 133 tonnes and 504 tonnes since 2002-03. The combined species quota for non-pink snapper demersal scalefish has been set at 228 tonnes, which is 25% below the predicted sustainable commercial harvest level to provide for a precautionary approach to management. While a quota of 228 tonnes allowed for a level of growth in the commercial catch over recent years, it is below the long-term average catch of non-pink snapper demersal scalefish in the Gascoyne.
(c) Government has entered into an agreement with Recfishwest as the peak representative body for recreational fishing in Western Australia, and the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council as the peak representative body for commercial fishing in Western Australia, to undertake consultation and provide consolidated advice to Government on behalf of the recreational and commercial fishing sectors respectively. The industry proposal to trial fish traps in the Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery was provided to Recfishwest and the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council on 25 January 2016 for an agreed 28 day consultation period. Due to the level of community interest in regard to the proposal, the initial consultation period was extended by two weeks and the industry proposal was published on the Department of Fisheries website on 23 February 2016 to give the community broader access to the details of the proposal.
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