❓ Hon Barry House raises concerns about conflicts between professional fishermen and local surfers. Hon Jon Ford acknowledges the issue, outlines past attempts at resolution, and commits to making a decision within four weeks after further consultation.
AnsweredQoN 618Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the disagreements and occasional conflict that has arisen during the past few years between professional fishermen, who largely hail from outside the area, and local users, particularly surfers. Is the minister working to resolve this issue before the busy summer holiday season? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for this question. This issue has been going on for a number of years. Although it is not a fisheries issue regarding sustainability, I have the authority to resolve the issue. As the member said, this goes to the two main stakeholders being surfers and commercial rock lobster fishermen. My predecessor put in place a process to enable the two groups to reach consensus, but they failed to reach a resolution earlier this year. I extended that time and they still failed to reach consensus. This means, of course, that I have been left with making that decision. I intend to announce that decision in about four weeks. That time frame is needed because I am seeking further consultation with the Department of Fisheries and am having a final attempt at getting some consensus between the two parties. Four weeks is the cut-off for me to make that decision.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for this question. This issue has been going on for a number of years. Although it is not a fisheries issue regarding sustainability, I have the authority to resolve the issue. As the member said, this goes to the two main stakeholders being surfers and commercial rock lobster fishermen. My predecessor put in place a process to enable the two groups to reach consensus, but they failed to reach a resolution earlier this year. I extended that time and they still failed to reach consensus. This means, of course, that I have been left with making that decision. I intend to announce that decision in about four weeks. That time frame is needed because I am seeking further consultation with the Department of Fisheries and am having a final attempt at getting some consensus between the two parties. Four weeks is the cut-off for me to make that decision.
I thank the member for this question. This issue has been going on for a number of years. Although it is not a fisheries issue regarding sustainability, I have the authority to resolve the issue. As the member said, this goes to the two main stakeholders being surfers and commercial rock lobster fishermen. My predecessor put in place a process to enable the two groups to reach consensus, but they failed to reach a resolution earlier this year. I extended that time and they still failed to reach consensus. This means, of course, that I have been left with making that decision. I intend to announce that decision in about four weeks. That time frame is needed because I am seeking further consultation with the Department of Fisheries and am having a final attempt at getting some consensus between the two parties. Four weeks is the cut-off for me to make that decision.
This issue has been going on for a number of years. Although it is not a fisheries issue regarding sustainability, I have the authority to resolve the issue. As the member said, this goes to the two main stakeholders being surfers and commercial rock lobster fishermen. My predecessor put in place a process to enable the two groups to reach consensus, but they failed to reach a resolution earlier this year. I extended that time and they still failed to reach consensus. This means, of course, that I have been left with making that decision. I intend to announce that decision in about four weeks. That time frame is needed because I am seeking further consultation with the Department of Fisheries and am having a final attempt at getting some consensus between the two parties. Four weeks is the cut-off for me to make that decision.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for this question. This issue has been going on for a number of years. Although it is not a fisheries issue regarding sustainability, I have the authority to resolve the issue. As the member said, this goes to the two main stakeholders being surfers and commercial rock lobster fishermen. My predecessor put in place a process to enable the two groups to reach consensus, but they failed to reach a resolution earlier this year. I extended that time and they still failed to reach consensus. This means, of course, that I have been left with making that decision. I intend to announce that decision in about four weeks. That time frame is needed because I am seeking further consultation with the Department of Fisheries and am having a final attempt at getting some consensus between the two parties. Four weeks is the cut-off for me to make that decision.
I thank the member for this question. This issue has been going on for a number of years. Although it is not a fisheries issue regarding sustainability, I have the authority to resolve the issue. As the member said, this goes to the two main stakeholders being surfers and commercial rock lobster fishermen. My predecessor put in place a process to enable the two groups to reach consensus, but they failed to reach a resolution earlier this year. I extended that time and they still failed to reach consensus. This means, of course, that I have been left with making that decision. I intend to announce that decision in about four weeks. That time frame is needed because I am seeking further consultation with the Department of Fisheries and am having a final attempt at getting some consensus between the two parties. Four weeks is the cut-off for me to make that decision.
This issue has been going on for a number of years. Although it is not a fisheries issue regarding sustainability, I have the authority to resolve the issue. As the member said, this goes to the two main stakeholders being surfers and commercial rock lobster fishermen. My predecessor put in place a process to enable the two groups to reach consensus, but they failed to reach a resolution earlier this year. I extended that time and they still failed to reach consensus. This means, of course, that I have been left with making that decision. I intend to announce that decision in about four weeks. That time frame is needed because I am seeking further consultation with the Department of Fisheries and am having a final attempt at getting some consensus between the two parties. Four weeks is the cut-off for me to make that decision.
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