Hon Simon O'Brien questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding licensed fishing vessels and the effectiveness of the satellite-assisted vessel monitoring system (VMS). The Minister provides some data but cites operational confidentiality for withholding further details, offering a confidential briefing instead.

AnsweredQoN 597Legislative Council
Asked
16 August 2007
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

LICENSED FISHING VESSELS
(1) How many fishing boats are licensed in Western Australia? (2) How many of these vessels are equipped to be monitored by the satellite-assisted vessel monitoring system? (3) Is it true that as few as 10 boats are able to be monitored at this time because of deficiencies in the VMS; and, if 10 is not the number capable of being monitored, what is the number being recorded at this time? Hon JON FORD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Simon O’Brien for some notice of the question. (1) There are 1 528. (2) There were 218 as of June 2007. (3) No. Due to operational confidentiality, I am not prepared to provide any further information. However, I have directed the chief executive officer of the Department of Fisheries to supply the member with a confidential briefing on any matter he wishes to discuss regarding this issue. Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
(2) How many of these vessels are equipped to be monitored by the satellite-assisted vessel monitoring system? (3) Is it true that as few as 10 boats are able to be monitored at this time because of deficiencies in the VMS; and, if 10 is not the number capable of being monitored, what is the number being recorded at this time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Simon O’Brien for some notice of the question. (1) There are 1 528. (2) There were 218 as of June 2007. (3) No. Due to operational confidentiality, I am not prepared to provide any further information. However, I have directed the chief executive officer of the Department of Fisheries to supply the member with a confidential briefing on any matter he wishes to discuss regarding this issue. Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
(3) Is it true that as few as 10 boats are able to be monitored at this time because of deficiencies in the VMS; and, if 10 is not the number capable of being monitored, what is the number being recorded at this time? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Simon O’Brien for some notice of the question. (1) There are 1 528. (2) There were 218 as of June 2007. (3) No. Due to operational confidentiality, I am not prepared to provide any further information. However, I have directed the chief executive officer of the Department of Fisheries to supply the member with a confidential briefing on any matter he wishes to discuss regarding this issue. Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Simon O’Brien for some notice of the question. (1) There are 1 528. (2) There were 218 as of June 2007. (3) No. Due to operational confidentiality, I am not prepared to provide any further information. However, I have directed the chief executive officer of the Department of Fisheries to supply the member with a confidential briefing on any matter he wishes to discuss regarding this issue. Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
I thank Hon Simon O’Brien for some notice of the question. (1) There are 1 528. (2) There were 218 as of June 2007. (3) No. Due to operational confidentiality, I am not prepared to provide any further information. However, I have directed the chief executive officer of the Department of Fisheries to supply the member with a confidential briefing on any matter he wishes to discuss regarding this issue. Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
(1) There are 1 528. (2) There were 218 as of June 2007. (3) No. Due to operational confidentiality, I am not prepared to provide any further information. However, I have directed the chief executive officer of the Department of Fisheries to supply the member with a confidential briefing on any matter he wishes to discuss regarding this issue. Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
(2) There were 218 as of June 2007. (3) No. Due to operational confidentiality, I am not prepared to provide any further information. However, I have directed the chief executive officer of the Department of Fisheries to supply the member with a confidential briefing on any matter he wishes to discuss regarding this issue. Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
(3) No. Due to operational confidentiality, I am not prepared to provide any further information. However, I have directed the chief executive officer of the Department of Fisheries to supply the member with a confidential briefing on any matter he wishes to discuss regarding this issue. Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
Hon Simon O’Brien : Will he get in touch with me? Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.
Hon JON FORD : He will - hopefully within the next 10 minutes.

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