❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding the potential extension of the Abrolhos rock lobster fishery season and year-round fishing in the A zone, raising concerns about terrestrial wildlife impact, compliance monitoring, and consultation with the Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee (AIMAC). The Minister confirms consideration of these changes as part of transitioning to a full quota-managed fishery, downplaying environmental impact and compliance concerns, and no
AnsweredQoN 597Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ABROLHOS
ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY
597. Hon GIZ WATSON to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the Abrolhos rock lobster fishery.
(1) Is the minister considering further extending the A zone
season?
(2) Is the minister considering allowing fishing all year
round in the A zone?
(3) If the answer to (1) and/or (2) is yes —
(a) what are
the implications of this decision for managing the impact on terrestrial
wildlife on the Abrolhos Islands;
(b) what additional resources will
be made available to monitor compliance; and
(c) has this
issue been discussed by the Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee;
and, if so, what advice has it given the minister or his department?
ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY
597. Hon GIZ WATSON to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the Abrolhos rock lobster fishery.
(1) Is the minister considering further extending the A zone
season?
(2) Is the minister considering allowing fishing all year
round in the A zone?
(3) If the answer to (1) and/or (2) is yes —
(a) what are
the implications of this decision for managing the impact on terrestrial
wildlife on the Abrolhos Islands;
(b) what additional resources will
be made available to monitor compliance; and
(c) has this
issue been discussed by the Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee;
and, if so, what advice has it given the minister or his department?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) Yes.
(2) Yes. As
part of transitioning the west coast rock lobster managed fishery to a full
quota–managed fishery, I am considering removing a number of the
current input controls, including the restrictions relating to the fishing
season. Should I decide to allow 12-month fishing at the Abrolhos Islands,
fishers will continue to be restricted by the amount of quota on their licence,
and access to camps will be restricted to fishers that have a minimum of 600 A zone
units on their licence.
(3) (a) Little
additional impact on the terrestrial wildlife on the Abrolhos Islands is
anticipated as fishing activity in the quota-managed fishery will be
redistributed across the year. Furthermore, the number of fishing boats working
from camps within the Abrolhos Islands has decreased from 150 to 75 in recent
years, and this trend is likely to continue.
(b) Compliance
resources directed at the Abrolhos Islands, as elsewhere in the fishery, will
continue to be based on risk. With the redistribution of fishing effort across
the year, there is likely to be a corresponding redistribution of compliance
activity.
(c) No. AIMAC
now operates on a referral basis, and focuses on strategic issues such as
developing long-term management plans for the reserve rather than dealing with
operational or fishery-specific matters.
(1) Yes.
(2) Yes. As
part of transitioning the west coast rock lobster managed fishery to a full
quota–managed fishery, I am considering removing a number of the
current input controls, including the restrictions relating to the fishing
season. Should I decide to allow 12-month fishing at the Abrolhos Islands,
fishers will continue to be restricted by the amount of quota on their licence,
and access to camps will be restricted to fishers that have a minimum of 600 A zone
units on their licence.
(3) (a) Little
additional impact on the terrestrial wildlife on the Abrolhos Islands is
anticipated as fishing activity in the quota-managed fishery will be
redistributed across the year. Furthermore, the number of fishing boats working
from camps within the Abrolhos Islands has decreased from 150 to 75 in recent
years, and this trend is likely to continue.
(b) Compliance
resources directed at the Abrolhos Islands, as elsewhere in the fishery, will
continue to be based on risk. With the redistribution of fishing effort across
the year, there is likely to be a corresponding redistribution of compliance
activity.
(c) No. AIMAC
now operates on a referral basis, and focuses on strategic issues such as
developing long-term management plans for the reserve rather than dealing with
operational or fishery-specific matters.
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