❓ Hon Jon Ford questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding the potential impact of a super trawler operating in Commonwealth waters on WA's fisheries. The Minister expresses concern and outlines steps to seek clarification from the Commonwealth, while also noting the Commonwealth's potential disregard for state concerns.
AnsweredQoN 566Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SUPER TRAWLER MARGIRIS
566. Hon JON FORD to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the question without notice from Hon Giz Watson
yesterday in regards to the so-called super trawler, to which the minister
answered in part —
The trawler will be operating in
commonwealth waters within a commonwealth managed fishery. While this is the
case, I am concerned about the potential impacts on localised depletion of the
target fish species and any downstream effects that this may have on the state's
commercial and recreational fisheries.
Will the minister relay these concerns to the Minister for
Agriculture and Food?
566. Hon JON FORD to the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the question without notice from Hon Giz Watson
yesterday in regards to the so-called super trawler, to which the minister
answered in part —
The trawler will be operating in
commonwealth waters within a commonwealth managed fishery. While this is the
case, I am concerned about the potential impacts on localised depletion of the
target fish species and any downstream effects that this may have on the state's
commercial and recreational fisheries.
Will the minister relay these concerns to the Minister for
Agriculture and Food?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. The so-called super trawler is being brought to Australia to
operate in commonwealth waters in commonwealth fisheries. The approvals process
is undertaken by the commonwealth. As I indicated yesterday, although the state
Department of Fisheries has been advised about what is happening and I tabled
the documentation, the commonwealth does not need our approval. As I understand
it, the main purpose of the exercise is related to Tasmania and the
commonwealth waters off the Tasmanian coast, but it could extend as far as
Western Australia. As I indicated in my answer yesterday, I have some concerns
about whether this particular super trawler might affect the state's
fishing waters, bearing in mind that we really only have responsibility for
three nautical miles off the coast, apart from those joint commonwealth–state
managed fisheries.
I have suggested to the Department of Fisheries that maybe we
ought to seek some more clarification from the commonwealth about its
understanding of the potential consequences of that trawler operating in or
near Western Australian waters, and I think that may well be worth doing. I
should say, however, that in The
Australian today, or it might have been The
Australian Financial Review , there is reference to an expert panel—or
it might be an expert environmental scientist or something like that—that
has said that as far as it is concerned, this particular super trawler is not a
threat to any fishery, and I would imagine the commonwealth government is
relying on that sort of advice for the approvals it has given.
We need to bear in mind that the commonwealth does not always
take any notice of us. I argued very strongly, for example, against the
commonwealth taking control of all offshore petroleum. Therefore, I cannot
imagine the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry taking any
notice of me about what the commonwealth might want to do in commonwealth
fisheries. But seeing that Hon Jon Ford is of the same persuasion, he might
write the federal minister a letter himself; perhaps that might be a useful
outcome.
Hon Jon Ford : I will.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : I am a bit keen to know a bit more
about what the commonwealth has in mind, because when it was first announced it
was to do with Tasmania, and I had not thought at that time that it was going
to affect Western Australia, but I am told now that it may well do. So I think
it is time to find out more about it and get some comfort, if members like,
from the federal government about what it is proposing to do.
for the question. The so-called super trawler is being brought to Australia to
operate in commonwealth waters in commonwealth fisheries. The approvals process
is undertaken by the commonwealth. As I indicated yesterday, although the state
Department of Fisheries has been advised about what is happening and I tabled
the documentation, the commonwealth does not need our approval. As I understand
it, the main purpose of the exercise is related to Tasmania and the
commonwealth waters off the Tasmanian coast, but it could extend as far as
Western Australia. As I indicated in my answer yesterday, I have some concerns
about whether this particular super trawler might affect the state's
fishing waters, bearing in mind that we really only have responsibility for
three nautical miles off the coast, apart from those joint commonwealth–state
managed fisheries.
I have suggested to the Department of Fisheries that maybe we
ought to seek some more clarification from the commonwealth about its
understanding of the potential consequences of that trawler operating in or
near Western Australian waters, and I think that may well be worth doing. I
should say, however, that in The
Australian today, or it might have been The
Australian Financial Review , there is reference to an expert panel—or
it might be an expert environmental scientist or something like that—that
has said that as far as it is concerned, this particular super trawler is not a
threat to any fishery, and I would imagine the commonwealth government is
relying on that sort of advice for the approvals it has given.
We need to bear in mind that the commonwealth does not always
take any notice of us. I argued very strongly, for example, against the
commonwealth taking control of all offshore petroleum. Therefore, I cannot
imagine the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry taking any
notice of me about what the commonwealth might want to do in commonwealth
fisheries. But seeing that Hon Jon Ford is of the same persuasion, he might
write the federal minister a letter himself; perhaps that might be a useful
outcome.
Hon Jon Ford : I will.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : I am a bit keen to know a bit more
about what the commonwealth has in mind, because when it was first announced it
was to do with Tasmania, and I had not thought at that time that it was going
to affect Western Australia, but I am told now that it may well do. So I think
it is time to find out more about it and get some comfort, if members like,
from the federal government about what it is proposing to do.
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