Pro Liscence Buyout

[flairj]

I had a bit of an idea lately and was wondering what other Ausfish members think..........

Is it a plausable idea or is it pie in the sky stuff?

Would you support it?

Would you volunteer your own time?

So, for the idea........ If there was a charity organisation started by Rec fisherman with the sole purpose of raising money and approaching pro fisherman and BUYING THEIR LISCENCE for fair market value and not using it.

From what I understand the recreational sector of fishing when you add up everything comes to far more than the pro sector. Now I'm not saying it would try and cripple the food industry but maybe buy out the buggers who'll net anything for cat food or fertilizer (I've don't think I've ever eaten Mullet).

What do you think?

Josh

[Horse]

We are already paying enough in taxes. If a fishery is deemed to be unsustainable then fisheries management should determine a fair and equitable method of reducing commercial effort. It has been done in many parts of the world and is part of the rationale behind resource management

Neil

[GAFYM]

Geez...You have to be in La La land. The true pro fisherman, and i am not one, has a right to earn a living just like anyone else and they are probably just as eco-friendly as u and me, after all, it is their livelyhood. I have a good mate who is a pro fisherman, as was his whole family before him and they certainly "DO NOT" keep anything for "CAT" or "DOG" food. Try cruising the Brisbane R. bank of a night time and see what the "Ones we missed" from overseas countries keep.
Not just fish, but all the undersize crabs as well.
As for buying out their licence....Approach E.P.A. to do it......Yeah.....Right

[outsiderskip]

flairj
u must support that imported crap poluted fish
if u dont have pros some people will never have fresh seafood
besides mullet is full off omeaga oil which is very healthy
cant beat fresh sea mullet

pete

[Sea-Dog]

Speaking of "La La Land" - Pros being eco-friendly

When was the last time a pro fisherman stopped fishing when there were fish available and their holding bins not full? ("Oh, I think that's all that the environment can sustain for today. No more Orange roughy or Southern Bluefin Tuna today thank you - move away from the boat please.)

That's like gold miners limiting the amount of gold they dig out of the ground so that they can save some for the weekend prospectors.



What about aquaculture?

Sure, you don't get the variety, but the reliability of supply and quality control must be positives.

That way, those that don't fish, have a supply of fresh "sea-food" available.

[WHALEOIL]

We are already paying enough in taxes.

I think of my fishing license as the best $20 piece of tackle I buy each year.

[spindles]

And when we get rid of the pro's, then we can get started on the farmers from poisoning the waterways with their runoff, then stop the population grouth from poluting the water with swerage. surely someone else can add to this list of who we can get rid of. spindles

[flairj]

Horse, GAYFM and outsiderskip......... I don't think any of you read my post.

Horse: What does a charity have to do with how much tax you pay? Look at the three sentences that end with a question mark. Your answer is obviously no if you are ranting about how much tax you pay.

GAYFM: have another read too. I don't want to put the pro fisherman on the street. Pay him "fair market value". As a rough example: He makes $50 000 a year fishing, then buy his liscence for 3 years salary (and before you start, this is an example. I don't know how much a pro's liscence is worth or what they make). If you got 3 years redundancy pay I'm sure you'd survive or you wouldn't sell.

outsiderskip: "Now I'm not saying it would try and cripple the food industry" and pardon my ignorance on this matter but what do they use all the tonnes of mullet they net off the beaches? because I don't think people eat all of that.

Josh

Let the flames begin

[NAGG]

Hey this is not pie in the sky stuff
In NSW it is a reality & part of the reasoning behind our Fishing licence.

Many of the NSW estuaries are now free of Professional netting ( even our beloved botany Bay). ..... The fishing has improved immensely in these systems over the last 6-8 years..... I also believe that long line licences are also being bought out
The first few years ..... most of us were scratching our heads & saying where was the money going ( consolidated revenue ). Actually majority of the funds are managed by REC fish ..... With distribution now going to other ventures like fish cleaning tables & the formation of artificial reefs...( fishing groups can apply for funds).... Areas like Botany bay + other estuaries ...are now annually stocked with Jewfish. We also have the popular FAD network ..... all paid out of licence fees

I know many dont like the idea of licences (over taxed already) ..... but having a well managed system does allow for things like pro licence buy outs & the expenditure of funds on fishing related projects.
I know I dont mind paying the $30 annual fee.

Nagg

[RayDeR]

G'day Flairj!

What you call a charity should really be called a "Not for profit organisation" (NFP) or a Non Government Organisation (NGO).

It does refer to our taxes because NFPs usually get tax concessions and sometimes government grants. It also refers directly to our taxes as governments are alreasdy involved in "buy back schemes" for professional licences.

How would we decide which licences to buy back? Buy the cheapest and maybe buy out an ineffectual fisherman who has been looking for an escape route because of poor gear and low returns?

Or buy the highest priced and get the efficient guys with the biggest catch/ profit from their operation?


As NAGG points out these buy back schemes already operate in NSW and I think there have been some in Queensland.

I understand the mullet caught and seen on beaches goes for export, Australian markets and to the pet food industry. I also understand the mullet roe attracts high prices on overseas markets. The bait industry would be a significant consumer as well.

Ray De R

[Poseidon]

Surely there would be some Pro Fishermen just begging to be bought out?
It would be like trying to sell your house sitting at the end of the new runway, who would else would but it, you could pass in onto the kids but they don't want it.

I like your idea and as Nagg indicated it has been happening in NSW for sometime, made more easy with the need to purchase a fishing licence each year. Have a look at some of the facilities at boat ramps provided by this same $30. Yet we in QLD are quite happy to whinge and moan about the very thought of a fishing licence and belly-ache all day about who how our taxes should be spent but it has been proven that a properly managed licensing scheme (not a tax)directs the funds back to those who will benefit the most, the USER. How would the fish stocking in our wonderful impoundments go if there was never the SIP fee?

Whilst we oppose any thought of an introduced fishing license then we will continue to beg and scrape for facilities which would improve our pastime.

We are talking about a fee less than a carton of beer which would ultimately see improvements similar to those already realised in NSW.

[trueblue]

[quote=flairj;(I've don't think I've ever eaten Mullet).

Josh[/quote]

Maybe you should try eating some. Just trim a little more off the belly than usual (bit fatty) and you will be amazed at how good it is to eat. Just like some other species, it needs to be handled well, and prepared well.

Good, cheap, high omega 3 fish.

Just have to stop thinking that it looks like a big bait, then it tastes great...

Cheers

[trueblue]

As a rough example: He makes $50 000 a year fishing, then buy his liscence for 3 years salary
Let the flames begin

I seriously hope that our pros are not earning just a measely $50 000 per year for all their hard work if that is their sole income..............

Wouldn't be worth getting out of bed in the morning!

Cheers

[crab man]

Flairj ,
the fish in pet foods are mainly carp etc etc mullet and other beach netted fish is worth good money as alredy meantioned by others in the post. as also meantion there has been a buy back schem in place for years now, as for your idea i would think that the only pros who would sell to you are the ones not using there licens or dont have anoth shares to opperate there license it works on a very complex system now and they are reducing the netting numbers every year also the river netters.i think dpi have made it clear that they want to continue reducing these "high impact fishers". it would take alot of money also a license is valued by indorsements held each one around 50k the avg fishermen holds 3-4 indorsmenets so thats 150-200k just for the license & then as you said 3 years of income as compo ( as many of the fishermen are to old or set in there ways to go and re-train in a different industry in this day and age you need a university degree or tafe ticket to clean a shitter) at say around 60 plus k a year as income adds up to 180k min so a total of a min of around 380k per fisher, i think its " pie in the sky stuff " mate , not having a dig at you as you probley just want to protect the reco industry which is good champ but we need fresh sea food cought from our australian waters bye our australian fishermen and process workers or the only stuff you will be able to buy will be marked "imported" like the pound prawns that come in , raised under chicken farmes so the farmer feeds the chickens and the shit feeds the prawns and then we import them lose jobs put our waters in risk of diase....but atleast we get cheap prawns right...... .....
Craig
P.S im a commerical fishermen but im happy with the way the fisheries / dpi etc etc are mangering our industry i like you think we need more buy backs which will keep happening and when i have kids they will be able to go catch a feed of fish as will all our childeren and grand childern and so on so on

[Xahn1960]

Is it a plausable idea or is it pie in the sky stuff?

Probably pie in the sky, but heh.... its good to see people coming up with possible solutions to what is obviously a growing problem.... I reckon push it and see what happens, maybe it will generate other ideas along the same lines.

Bill.