Western Australian Fishing Industry Council’s (WAFIC) chief executive has welcomed the Fisheries Minister’s decision to approve the seafood industry’s COVID-19 recovery and stimulus package.
The Western Australian (WA) government has agreed to provide AUS$1.3m in fee relief and to defer until 2021 fees charged for licences and to access the fishing resource. Port pen fees have also been waived.
“I would like to thank those sector members and other industry leaders who worked with WAFIC to develop this package,” said WAFIC chief executive, Alex Ogg. “I’m pleased to also acknowledge the support and encouragement offered by the Western Australian Government and Fisheries Minister Peter Linley who listened and responded definitively throughout this process.”
The new package adds to recent support for WA’s rock lobster fishery and the Commonwealth’s AUS$110m air freight support package. The WA government has also approved the limited use of G-nets to take Australian herring.
Mr Ogg also thanked the Marine Stewardship Council which is providing a six-month extension for assessments and certification. He was also keen to champion the sector and look forward to a positive future.
“For an industry perspective, this support package was always seen as a hand-up, more than a hand-out for the state’s fishers, pearlers and aquaculture farmers and is an important element of the industry’s long-term recovery and market re-connection,” he added.
