Adhering to fisheries rules and regulations will be made much easier for Queenslanders with the introduction of the Fisheries Regulation 2008.
Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the revised legislation would feature clearer language and descriptions, incorporate the use of maps to demonstrate some regulated waters and would remove duplication of legislation that was part of the Fisheries Regulation 1995.
Mr Mulherin said no major changes to the actual rules had been applied, but rather changes were aimed at the wording and structure of the regulation.
"The new regulation achieves the same or similar fisheries resource management outcomes as the 1995 Regulation, but in a clearer, more consistent and less regulatory way,
"But I must emphasise that the proposed changes to fishing rules which have been outlined for the Inshore Fin Fish Fishery which is currently under review have not been incorporated in any way into the new regulations.''
DPI&F fisheries policy manager Maria Mohr said all regulations had to be reviewed every 10 years, so DPI&F took the opportunity to employ modern drafting techniques to present the information in the most logical way and therefore ensure any mandatory obligations are properly enforced.
Modifications to the Fisheries Regulation 2008 include removing redundant or spent provisions, correcting any errors in past regulations and ensuring the regulation has appropriate regard to fundamental legislative principles. Certain changes to existing terminology have also been included within the new legislation such as:
• 'closed seasons' and 'closed waters' to 'regulated waters declarations'
• 'prohibited fishing methods' to 'regulated fishing method declarations'
• 'prohibited fishing apparatus' to 'regulated fishing apparatus declarations'
For more information on the Fisheries Regulation 2008 visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb. Alternatively, the new regulations are available online at www.legislation.qld.gov.au
