❓ Question regarding the impact of the Western Rock Lobster fishery closure on the Chinese market during Chinese New Year and whether an alternative closure period could be considered. The Minister acknowledges the importance of sustainability and the industry's role in developing the closure, but indicates a willingness to review the package.
AnsweredQoN 343Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY - CLOSURE
Like iron ore exports, sales to China of live western rock lobsters are rising rapidly. This market is vital as it is currently returning $7 per kilogram more to fishermen than alternative markets. China’s biggest demand period is the Chinese New Year, which falls exceptionally late next year on 18 February. (1) Will the minister acknowledge that the current closure period in zone B from 10 January to 14 February 2007 will have a negative impact on that market opportunity, with potential long-term consequences for this lucrative period in China? (2) Will the minister consider an alternative closure period for the rock lobster fishery to enable this market to be expanded, while still maintaining the market requirements of Taiwan and Japan? Hon JON FORD
Like iron ore exports, sales to China of live western rock lobsters are rising rapidly. This market is vital as it is currently returning $7 per kilogram more to fishermen than alternative markets. China’s biggest demand period is the Chinese New Year, which falls exceptionally late next year on 18 February. (1) Will the minister acknowledge that the current closure period in zone B from 10 January to 14 February 2007 will have a negative impact on that market opportunity, with potential long-term consequences for this lucrative period in China? (2) Will the minister consider an alternative closure period for the rock lobster fishery to enable this market to be expanded, while still maintaining the market requirements of Taiwan and Japan? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
(1) Will the minister acknowledge that the current closure period in zone B from 10 January to 14 February 2007 will have a negative impact on that market opportunity, with potential long-term consequences for this lucrative period in China? (2) Will the minister consider an alternative closure period for the rock lobster fishery to enable this market to be expanded, while still maintaining the market requirements of Taiwan and Japan? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
(2) Will the minister consider an alternative closure period for the rock lobster fishery to enable this market to be expanded, while still maintaining the market requirements of Taiwan and Japan? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
(1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
(1) Will the minister acknowledge that the current closure period in zone B from 10 January to 14 February 2007 will have a negative impact on that market opportunity, with potential long-term consequences for this lucrative period in China? (2) Will the minister consider an alternative closure period for the rock lobster fishery to enable this market to be expanded, while still maintaining the market requirements of Taiwan and Japan? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
(2) Will the minister consider an alternative closure period for the rock lobster fishery to enable this market to be expanded, while still maintaining the market requirements of Taiwan and Japan? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
(1)-(2) The closure in zone B from 10 January to 14 February is an important part of the sustainability package developed by the industry as a proactive response to a moderate decline in the breeding stock. The current sustainability package, of which the closure is a key part, was developed through what is perhaps the most extensive fisheries consultation process to date. In fact, through this process the closure was confirmed as the most supported of all options considered in the industry consultation process. In the consultation process the Chinese market was raised as an issue. However, the advice I have is that, with all matters considered, industry felt that there would not be a detrimental effect on the market. Those points made, when I adopted industry’s advice and implemented the sustainability package, I announced that the package was subject to review. This means that changes to the package can be made to improve the net outcome. This is, of course, provided that any proposed changes do not compromise the core sustainability objectives and are broadly supported by industry. The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
The difficulty is that the Chinese New Year moves back and forward. When we complete the industry review about what input or output measures might be adopted, there may be a resolution of that issue by the industry deciding to move to a quota system. There is still an option this year to address that issue.
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