Funding will help combat Australia’s ghost net issue

The organisation welcomed the funding announcement by Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water, which it said affirms the industry’s commitment to caring for Australia’s oceans and environment.

“As an industry, we are subject to some of the most intensive fisheries management and reporting protocols in the world,” said Veronica Papacosta, CEO, SIA.

”As fishers, our priority is the ocean. It’s our livelihood, and the future livelihood of generations to come. Australia’s seafrood industry is known for world leading practices and with the support of the Australian Government we look forward to continuing to advance this position.”

Word of warning

The welcome however, did come with a word of warning. Omitted from the announcement was the issue that 96% of ghost nets found in Australian waters are from international fishers and drift there due to ocean currents.

“The inference that Australia’s commercial fishers are responsible for dumping ghost nets, fishing nets lost at sea, into our oceans is categorically incorrect. In fact, Australia’s commercial fishers work hard to locate and remove ghost nets they find adrift, investing significant time and their own money into this,” said Ms Papacosta.

“As an industry we welcome any support to help make our Oceans and Environment more sustainable and clean, however it is important we make clear where the problem is originating from.”

Ms Papacosta said that researchers from James Cook University have estimated more than 85% of the ghost nets found along the Gulf coastline originate from outside of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. 

They most likely come from the nearby Arafura Sea between the Gulf and PNG, with the majority from fishers based in Taiwan, Indonesia and Japan.