Hon Frank Hough asks about the Department of Fisheries' acceptance of AQIS risk assessments for imported pilchards used in the rock lobster industry and by recreational fishers. Hon Kim Chance responds that current interim policies provide an acceptable level of protection.

AnsweredQoN 1129Legislative Council
Asked
30 November 2004
Portfolio
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Does the Department of Fisheries accept the current risk assessment of the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service for imported pilchards? (2) Can the minister reassure the community that the pilchards used in the western rock lobster industry and by recreational fishers are acceptable in terms of risk assessment? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of his question. (1)-(2) The import policies for pilchards are based on a 1999 import risk assessment for “non-viable, non-salmonid marine and freshwater finfish and their products”. In 2002, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service imposed additional interim quarantine measures on imported whole frozen pilchards and mackerel pending a policy review by Biosecurity Australia. That policy review has not yet been completed. However, the Department of Fisheries is satisfied that the interim policy still in place provides an acceptable level of protection for the Western Australian environment. Pilchards currently used in the western rock lobster fishery and by recreational fishers are imported in conformity with the outlined AQIS interim policies.
(2) Can the minister reassure the community that the pilchards used in the western rock lobster industry and by recreational fishers are acceptable in terms of risk assessment? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of his question. (1)-(2) The import policies for pilchards are based on a 1999 import risk assessment for “non-viable, non-salmonid marine and freshwater finfish and their products”. In 2002, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service imposed additional interim quarantine measures on imported whole frozen pilchards and mackerel pending a policy review by Biosecurity Australia. That policy review has not yet been completed. However, the Department of Fisheries is satisfied that the interim policy still in place provides an acceptable level of protection for the Western Australian environment. Pilchards currently used in the western rock lobster fishery and by recreational fishers are imported in conformity with the outlined AQIS interim policies.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of his question. (1)-(2) The import policies for pilchards are based on a 1999 import risk assessment for “non-viable, non-salmonid marine and freshwater finfish and their products”. In 2002, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service imposed additional interim quarantine measures on imported whole frozen pilchards and mackerel pending a policy review by Biosecurity Australia. That policy review has not yet been completed. However, the Department of Fisheries is satisfied that the interim policy still in place provides an acceptable level of protection for the Western Australian environment. Pilchards currently used in the western rock lobster fishery and by recreational fishers are imported in conformity with the outlined AQIS interim policies.
I thank Hon Frank Hough for some notice of his question. (1)-(2) The import policies for pilchards are based on a 1999 import risk assessment for “non-viable, non-salmonid marine and freshwater finfish and their products”. In 2002, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service imposed additional interim quarantine measures on imported whole frozen pilchards and mackerel pending a policy review by Biosecurity Australia. That policy review has not yet been completed. However, the Department of Fisheries is satisfied that the interim policy still in place provides an acceptable level of protection for the Western Australian environment. Pilchards currently used in the western rock lobster fishery and by recreational fishers are imported in conformity with the outlined AQIS interim policies.
(1)-(2) The import policies for pilchards are based on a 1999 import risk assessment for “non-viable, non-salmonid marine and freshwater finfish and their products”. In 2002, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service imposed additional interim quarantine measures on imported whole frozen pilchards and mackerel pending a policy review by Biosecurity Australia. That policy review has not yet been completed. However, the Department of Fisheries is satisfied that the interim policy still in place provides an acceptable level of protection for the Western Australian environment. Pilchards currently used in the western rock lobster fishery and by recreational fishers are imported in conformity with the outlined AQIS interim policies.

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