Hon Barry House raises concerns about the potential impact of changes to WA fisheries management on the south coast fishery, specifically the influx of west coast licence holders. Hon Jon Ford assures that the wetline review aims to prevent this transfer of effort through formal management and limited entry.

AnsweredQoN 1137Legislative Council
Asked
21 November 2007
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
I refer to the current extensive proposed change to Western Australian fisheries management. How will the minister prevent many additional commercial licence holders who normally operate on the west coast moving into the south coast fishery to threaten fish stocks, the sustainability of this fishery as well as the viability of the current licensed operators who have worked this fishery for many years? Hon JON FORD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Barry House for the question. The whole point of the wetline review and, therefore, bringing the west coast wetline fishery under management, is to stop the transfer of effort. Currently, there are about 1 100 potential licence holders, most of whom do not fish on a regular basis in the wetline fishery. It is almost impossible to predict what the catch will be. As soon as the fishery is brought under formal management, it will bring the number of licence holders entitled to fish in that fishery down to about 70. Like other managed fisheries that are limited-entry fisheries, they will be required to fish in a particular zone. Therefore, the transfer of effort attaching to other fisheries cannot apply. I will arrange a briefing to explain the mechanism that will be put in place.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Barry House for the question. The whole point of the wetline review and, therefore, bringing the west coast wetline fishery under management, is to stop the transfer of effort. Currently, there are about 1 100 potential licence holders, most of whom do not fish on a regular basis in the wetline fishery. It is almost impossible to predict what the catch will be. As soon as the fishery is brought under formal management, it will bring the number of licence holders entitled to fish in that fishery down to about 70. Like other managed fisheries that are limited-entry fisheries, they will be required to fish in a particular zone. Therefore, the transfer of effort attaching to other fisheries cannot apply. I will arrange a briefing to explain the mechanism that will be put in place.
I thank Hon Barry House for the question. The whole point of the wetline review and, therefore, bringing the west coast wetline fishery under management, is to stop the transfer of effort. Currently, there are about 1 100 potential licence holders, most of whom do not fish on a regular basis in the wetline fishery. It is almost impossible to predict what the catch will be. As soon as the fishery is brought under formal management, it will bring the number of licence holders entitled to fish in that fishery down to about 70. Like other managed fisheries that are limited-entry fisheries, they will be required to fish in a particular zone. Therefore, the transfer of effort attaching to other fisheries cannot apply. I will arrange a briefing to explain the mechanism that will be put in place.

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