Hon Colin de Grussa questions the rationale and impact of headrope reductions in the Shark Bay prawn fishery. The parliamentary secretary responds that scientific rationale was provided and a two-stage approach was implemented to mitigate socio-economic impacts.

AnsweredQoN 1347Legislative Council
Asked
7 November 2023
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

FISHERIES — SHARK BAY
1347. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Fisheries:
I
refer to the management arrangements that apply to the harvesting of prawns
within the Shark Bay managed fishery.
(1) Why was no
scientific rationale or reasoning provided to the industry by the Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development for the 30 per cent reduction of
headrope in 2023 moving to 50 per cent in 2024?
(2) What analysis
was undertaken by DPIRD on the social and economic impacts on individuals,
businesses and the community, in particular Carnarvon, by reducing the size of
the fishery by 50 per cent?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice
of the question and provide the following answer on behalf of the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Fisheries.
(1) The
scientific rationale was provided to industry in 2022 as part of the statutory
consultation process required to amend the Shark Bay prawn management plan. The
33 per cent headrope reduction in 2023 and the 50 per cent headrope reduction
in 2024 is part of a management package to address sustainability issues in the
Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery.
(2) In
recognition of the social and economic impacts associated with the required 50
per cent headrope reduction, a two-stage management package was developed. The
33 per cent headrope reduction implemented for the 2023 season provided
businesses the opportunity to adjust their fishing operations in advance of the
full 50 per cent headrope reduction in 2024.

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