Seafood And Fishers Winning From Reforms

[jaybee]

Qld. Media statement
Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie

01/09/04


Seafood And Fishers Winning From Reforms

Seafood, the environment, and professional fishers are all winning from new Queensland fishing regulations, Queensland Parliament heard today.

Premier Peter Beattie said a new discussion paper on the East Coast Trawl Management Plan - which was introduced in 1999 - shows the management plan is working to save important species from being fished out.

"Future generations of Queenslanders will be able to enjoy catching and eating delicious Queensland seafood," Mr Beattie said.

"The discussion paper shows popular species - including prawns, scallops, bugs, blue swimmer crabs, crayfish, squid and others - are sustainable at present levels.

"Bycatch species are also sustainable, yet the trawlers are more profitable," Mr Beattie said.

He tabled the discussion paper, which is now released for public consultation for six weeks. Feedback will help the government assess whether there is a need to amend the trawl plan.

Mr Beattie said: "We have reached a key target of a 1999 agreement with the industry and the Federal Government, which was to reduce the "effort" put into professional fishing by 15% up front, and achieve further annual reductions.

"The number of days trawlers have entered the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area has fallen by 38%.

"Seventy per cent of boats have decreased the number of days they fish.

"The fleet of commercial trawlers has reduced from about 1400 in the 1980s to 520 in May 2004," Mr Beattie said.

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Henry Palaszczuk, said while other factors could influence the economic performance of fishers, the average viability of trawl businesses had improved since the plan's inception.

"The review found boats are operating more effectively, attaining larger catch sizes and better quality fish.

"Boats caught more seafood but spent less money doing so.

"This is a win all round: for the fish, the environment, the fishers, and Queenslanders who love to fish and feast on seafood," Mr Palaszczuk said.

The East Coast Trawl Management Plan was the first of a series of Queensland Government reforms aimed at ensuring fisheries are sustainable, and is the first to be reviewed.

The discussion paper is available at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb or by calling the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries on13 25 23

1 September 2004
Media Contact: Kirby Anderson - 0418 197 350

[Local_Guy]

hmm. are we suppose to beleive that.

all i hear up here in the papers and on the news is all these pros are going out of business. and soon everyone will be netting the Fitzroy River cuz they can't fish outside.