❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses amendments to regulations for prawn and scallop fisheries in the Abrolhos Islands, focusing on reasons for changes, scientific evidence, sustainability risks, and management plans. The Minister clarifies the administrative basis for the amendment and tables the management plan.
AnsweredQoN 934Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ABROLHOS ISLANDS AND MID-WEST TRAWL FISHERY
I refer to the original notice involving the prawn and scallop fisheries as amended by amendment 1 of 2005, which was published in the Government Gazette on 11 November 2005. (1) Will the minister inform the house of the reason for the amended notice? (2) What scientific evidence supported or was used in arriving at this amended notice for the prawn and scallop fisheries? (3) Will the minister table any such documents, including management plans? (4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD
I refer to the original notice involving the prawn and scallop fisheries as amended by amendment 1 of 2005, which was published in the Government Gazette on 11 November 2005. (1) Will the minister inform the house of the reason for the amended notice? (2) What scientific evidence supported or was used in arriving at this amended notice for the prawn and scallop fisheries? (3) Will the minister table any such documents, including management plans? (4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(1) Will the minister inform the house of the reason for the amended notice? (2) What scientific evidence supported or was used in arriving at this amended notice for the prawn and scallop fisheries? (3) Will the minister table any such documents, including management plans? (4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(2) What scientific evidence supported or was used in arriving at this amended notice for the prawn and scallop fisheries? (3) Will the minister table any such documents, including management plans? (4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(3) Will the minister table any such documents, including management plans? (4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
[See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(1) Will the minister inform the house of the reason for the amended notice? (2) What scientific evidence supported or was used in arriving at this amended notice for the prawn and scallop fisheries? (3) Will the minister table any such documents, including management plans? (4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(2) What scientific evidence supported or was used in arriving at this amended notice for the prawn and scallop fisheries? (3) Will the minister table any such documents, including management plans? (4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(3) Will the minister table any such documents, including management plans? (4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(4) Is there any evidence that biological sustainability is at risk? (5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(5) If so, will the minister table it in the house? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(1) The three key objectives of the amendment were to insert an end date of 15 November 2005 for the lodging of any further applications for managed fishery licences in the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery, to explicitly state the capacity of the fishery by prescribing trawl net head rope length and to recognise the historical use of try nets within the fishery. The licence application and grant process for the fishery took place in 1986 and the current head rope length in the fishery is a result of a long-term department and industry agreed policy position to continually reduce vessel numbers and an effort in the fishery to support scallop stock sustainability and enhance the economic viability of the fleet. On that basis, the fleet was reduced at a time when there was unlimited ability for many boats to come back into the fishery. If we had not taken that action, we would have ended up with a sustainability issue. (2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(2) The basis for the amendment was administrative, not scientific. (3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(3) I table the consolidated copy of the management plan as it is now displayed on the Department of Fisheries web site. [See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
[See paper 1100.] (4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(4) No. (5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
(5) Not applicable. I advise the member that there is one vacant licence within that plan.
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