❓ Hon Jon Ford questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding the management and allocation of fishing effort in the developmental octopus fishery, citing concerns of inequity. The Minister acknowledges the concerns and outlines steps being taken to address them, including potential referral to an independent advisory panel.
AnsweredQoN 463Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
OCTOPUS FISHERY
(1) Can the minister outline to the house the current management arrangements and allocation of fishing effort within the developmental octopus fishery? (2) Is the minister aware of sector concerns that the department has created a fundamentally unfair and inequitable situation within the developmental octopus fishery, which it says is caused by the management and allocation of fishing effort within this fishery? (3) What is the government doing to address these concerns? Hon NORMAN MOORE
(1) Can the minister outline to the house the current management arrangements and allocation of fishing effort within the developmental octopus fishery? (2) Is the minister aware of sector concerns that the department has created a fundamentally unfair and inequitable situation within the developmental octopus fishery, which it says is caused by the management and allocation of fishing effort within this fishery? (3) What is the government doing to address these concerns? Hon NORMAN MOORE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(2) Is the minister aware of sector concerns that the department has created a fundamentally unfair and inequitable situation within the developmental octopus fishery, which it says is caused by the management and allocation of fishing effort within this fishery? (3) What is the government doing to address these concerns? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(3) What is the government doing to address these concerns? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
[See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(2) Is the minister aware of sector concerns that the department has created a fundamentally unfair and inequitable situation within the developmental octopus fishery, which it says is caused by the management and allocation of fishing effort within this fishery? (3) What is the government doing to address these concerns? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(3) What is the government doing to address these concerns? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(1) The Western Australian developmental octopus fishery is managed under exemption through section 7 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Five exemptions permit access to the developmental fishery. Each exemption sets out the area in which the exemption holder is permitted to fish. These areas were originally based on the areas applied for under the developing fisheries process. Each exemption also sets out the number of unbaited (shelter), baited and trigger traps that the exemption holder is permitted to use. I table details of current exemption holders in the developmental octopus fishery. [See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
[See paper 3410.] Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : In addition to developmental octopus fishers, commercial rock lobster fishers may retain octopus as bycatch and there is a separate octopus fishery in Cockburn Sound that is part of the Cockburn Sound line and pot-managed fishery. Recreational fishers may also take octopus. (2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(2) I am aware that some exemption holders claim it is inequitable that, to date, only one exemption holder has been permitted to use trigger traps of a design that that exemption holder developed. Developmental fishing with trigger traps indicates that they are in the order of 30 times more efficient than shelter traps. Because of the unexpectedly high efficiency of trigger traps, requests from other exemption holders to also use large numbers of trigger traps has raised concerns with respect to the amount of effort the fishery can support. As a result, the Department of Fisheries has deferred consideration of all applications by exemption holders to either use trigger traps or restructure their use of trigger traps until the matter of allocation of sustainable trap numbers is determined. (3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
(3) With the assistance of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, the Department of Fisheries has been endeavouring to have the exemption holders reach agreement on an equitable allocation of traps and fishing effort. A further meeting with exemption holders and WAFIC is scheduled for 27 June. If industry agreement cannot be reached at that meeting, the department has indicated that it will refer the matter to an independent advisory panel.
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