South Australia’s AUS$24.5m reform of the marine scalefish fishery has officially come into effect.
Intended to strengthen the long-term financial and ecological sustainability of the industry, the changes include the establishment of four fishing zones across the state, the adoption of a quota system for priority species and a suite of measures to cut red tape.
Marshall Liberal Government Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, David Basham, said the government’s reform has “introduced new measures to protect sustainability of species such as setting sustainable annual catch limits and allocated tradable quota units so fishers can better plan their operations to maximise returns”.
The key issue before the reform was “too many fishers and not enough fish,” he explained, adding the first part of the reform was a voluntary licence surrender programme that has helped create “a smaller but more profitable marine scale fishing fleet”.
What changes will happen?
Key reform changes include the establishment of four fishing zones – West Coast, Spencer Gulf, Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island, and South East; the establishment of individual transferable quota (ITQ) management systems for King George whiting, snapper, southern garfish and southern calamari for the Marine Scalefish Fishery and the Rock Lobster Fisheries, managed by a total allowable commercial catch; and separation of the commercial taking of vongole and sardine from the Marine Scalefish Fishery and the constitution of the new fisheries under their own regulations.
The Marine Scalefish Quota Trading system is now available via the myPIRSA portal. The system enables licence holders to advertise, buy and sell quota for permanent transfers and will be available until 30 June 2022.
Red tape reduction measures include adding a new commercial fishing gear type, a ‘lift net’; allowing nets and lines to be carried onboard a fishing vessel and used at the same time; the removal of seasonal closures for snapper (in the South East) and southern garfish now that these stocks are managed under TACC and quota; and the addition of several permitted species to the fishery, including: Conger Eel, Sergeant Baker, Silver Drummer, Weedy Whiting, Knifejaw, Rock and Spider Crab (West of 135 degrees East).
