Hon. Murray Criddle questions the Minister for Fisheries about rock lobster fishing closures and their impact on fishermen. The Minister responds, clarifying the industry-led nature of the decision and addressing concerns about recreational vs. commercial fishing regulations.

AnsweredQoN 761Legislative Council
Asked
18 October 2005
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the decision to close rock lobster fishing on Sundays and during full moons in 2006 and to the cost of travel for fishermen, and ask - (1) Will the minister review the decision insisting on a return to port for fishermen using the big bank off Kalbarri during these times? (2) Are amateur rock lobster fishermen required to abide by these closures? Hon JON FORD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Murray Criddle for the question. (1) The rock lobster sustainability management package was agreed to under an industry-led process. The changes that were announced were a result not of the government telling the lobster industry what to do, but rather of this responsible industry working to address sustainability concerns. The new management changes were the industry’s preferred method of dealing with sustainability concerns, which I supported. In putting this new sustainability package together, it has been clearly stated that the management package will be reviewed after 12 months. However, given the question, I am very happy to listen to the concerns of these fishermen and I encourage them to contact me or my office. In fact, I will get my office to contact them. (2) No; recreational rock lobster fishermen are not required to abide by these closures. However, I am hopeful that under the integrated fisheries management process, issues such as the inequities between the management of the recreational sector and the commercial sector will be addressed. The recently approved IFM draft review of the rock lobster industry deals with a number of these issues. I look forward to the response I will receive to that review. The Department of Fisheries has undertake a compliance risk assessment and is developing a strategy to ensure that the risk of recreational fishers interfering with the gear of professional fishers when they are not present is as low as possible.
(1) Will the minister review the decision insisting on a return to port for fishermen using the big bank off Kalbarri during these times? (2) Are amateur rock lobster fishermen required to abide by these closures? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Murray Criddle for the question. (1) The rock lobster sustainability management package was agreed to under an industry-led process. The changes that were announced were a result not of the government telling the lobster industry what to do, but rather of this responsible industry working to address sustainability concerns. The new management changes were the industry’s preferred method of dealing with sustainability concerns, which I supported. In putting this new sustainability package together, it has been clearly stated that the management package will be reviewed after 12 months. However, given the question, I am very happy to listen to the concerns of these fishermen and I encourage them to contact me or my office. In fact, I will get my office to contact them. (2) No; recreational rock lobster fishermen are not required to abide by these closures. However, I am hopeful that under the integrated fisheries management process, issues such as the inequities between the management of the recreational sector and the commercial sector will be addressed. The recently approved IFM draft review of the rock lobster industry deals with a number of these issues. I look forward to the response I will receive to that review. The Department of Fisheries has undertake a compliance risk assessment and is developing a strategy to ensure that the risk of recreational fishers interfering with the gear of professional fishers when they are not present is as low as possible.
(2) Are amateur rock lobster fishermen required to abide by these closures? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Murray Criddle for the question. (1) The rock lobster sustainability management package was agreed to under an industry-led process. The changes that were announced were a result not of the government telling the lobster industry what to do, but rather of this responsible industry working to address sustainability concerns. The new management changes were the industry’s preferred method of dealing with sustainability concerns, which I supported. In putting this new sustainability package together, it has been clearly stated that the management package will be reviewed after 12 months. However, given the question, I am very happy to listen to the concerns of these fishermen and I encourage them to contact me or my office. In fact, I will get my office to contact them. (2) No; recreational rock lobster fishermen are not required to abide by these closures. However, I am hopeful that under the integrated fisheries management process, issues such as the inequities between the management of the recreational sector and the commercial sector will be addressed. The recently approved IFM draft review of the rock lobster industry deals with a number of these issues. I look forward to the response I will receive to that review. The Department of Fisheries has undertake a compliance risk assessment and is developing a strategy to ensure that the risk of recreational fishers interfering with the gear of professional fishers when they are not present is as low as possible.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Murray Criddle for the question. (1) The rock lobster sustainability management package was agreed to under an industry-led process. The changes that were announced were a result not of the government telling the lobster industry what to do, but rather of this responsible industry working to address sustainability concerns. The new management changes were the industry’s preferred method of dealing with sustainability concerns, which I supported. In putting this new sustainability package together, it has been clearly stated that the management package will be reviewed after 12 months. However, given the question, I am very happy to listen to the concerns of these fishermen and I encourage them to contact me or my office. In fact, I will get my office to contact them. (2) No; recreational rock lobster fishermen are not required to abide by these closures. However, I am hopeful that under the integrated fisheries management process, issues such as the inequities between the management of the recreational sector and the commercial sector will be addressed. The recently approved IFM draft review of the rock lobster industry deals with a number of these issues. I look forward to the response I will receive to that review. The Department of Fisheries has undertake a compliance risk assessment and is developing a strategy to ensure that the risk of recreational fishers interfering with the gear of professional fishers when they are not present is as low as possible.
I thank Hon Murray Criddle for the question. (1) The rock lobster sustainability management package was agreed to under an industry-led process. The changes that were announced were a result not of the government telling the lobster industry what to do, but rather of this responsible industry working to address sustainability concerns. The new management changes were the industry’s preferred method of dealing with sustainability concerns, which I supported. In putting this new sustainability package together, it has been clearly stated that the management package will be reviewed after 12 months. However, given the question, I am very happy to listen to the concerns of these fishermen and I encourage them to contact me or my office. In fact, I will get my office to contact them. (2) No; recreational rock lobster fishermen are not required to abide by these closures. However, I am hopeful that under the integrated fisheries management process, issues such as the inequities between the management of the recreational sector and the commercial sector will be addressed. The recently approved IFM draft review of the rock lobster industry deals with a number of these issues. I look forward to the response I will receive to that review. The Department of Fisheries has undertake a compliance risk assessment and is developing a strategy to ensure that the risk of recreational fishers interfering with the gear of professional fishers when they are not present is as low as possible.
(1) The rock lobster sustainability management package was agreed to under an industry-led process. The changes that were announced were a result not of the government telling the lobster industry what to do, but rather of this responsible industry working to address sustainability concerns. The new management changes were the industry’s preferred method of dealing with sustainability concerns, which I supported. In putting this new sustainability package together, it has been clearly stated that the management package will be reviewed after 12 months. However, given the question, I am very happy to listen to the concerns of these fishermen and I encourage them to contact me or my office. In fact, I will get my office to contact them. (2) No; recreational rock lobster fishermen are not required to abide by these closures. However, I am hopeful that under the integrated fisheries management process, issues such as the inequities between the management of the recreational sector and the commercial sector will be addressed. The recently approved IFM draft review of the rock lobster industry deals with a number of these issues. I look forward to the response I will receive to that review. The Department of Fisheries has undertake a compliance risk assessment and is developing a strategy to ensure that the risk of recreational fishers interfering with the gear of professional fishers when they are not present is as low as possible.
(2) No; recreational rock lobster fishermen are not required to abide by these closures. However, I am hopeful that under the integrated fisheries management process, issues such as the inequities between the management of the recreational sector and the commercial sector will be addressed. The recently approved IFM draft review of the rock lobster industry deals with a number of these issues. I look forward to the response I will receive to that review. The Department of Fisheries has undertake a compliance risk assessment and is developing a strategy to ensure that the risk of recreational fishers interfering with the gear of professional fishers when they are not present is as low as possible.

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