ANGLING opportunities will likely increase if the NSW Government’s contentious commercial fisheries reform program is handled correctly.
Public consultation on the program closed last week with NSW Fisheries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson promising the Government would “carefully examine all submissions”.
The reform proposals, which aim to make the NSW commercial fishing industry more viable, attracted widespread criticism from the recreational fishing sector due to a botched consultation process plus the inclusion of an array of “options” involving increased netting activity in valuable recreational fisheries.
It is expected that many of these “options”, which Fisho understands were included in the reform program at the behest of the commercial fishing industry, will likely be rejected.
If the controversy over the “wish list” aspect of the reform program is annulled, rec fishing pundits say the reform of the commercial industry will most likely result in better long-term angling opportunities.
This will be due to fewer commercial operators in the industry plus the implementation of quotas and other restrictions on how many fish the remaining netters and trappers can take. Currently, there are no limits applied to commercial netting and trapping activities in NSW.
Fisho has been told by various rec and commercial fishing leaders that the reform process is vital as the current system is untenable.
“There are too many commercial operators taking too many fish,” one fishing identity said. “It’s just not viable economically – or environmentally – to have so many commercials operating in what is essentially a very small fishery.”
This approach is supported by the Government, with Ms Hodgkinson saying the reform process “marks the next step towards improving the long-term viability of the commercial fishing industry in NSW”.
“The NSW Government is progressing the Commercial Fisheries Reform Program, which proposes to link shares in each fishery to either catch or fishing effort and includes a $16 million structural adjustment package,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“I acknowledge that the issues surrounding commercial fisheries management and the reform program are complex, which is why I extended the consultation period for an extra two weeks to allow more time to review the options and lodge a submission.
“The NSW Government has received more than 500 submissions and I thank those individuals and groups that took the time to consider the issues and provide feedback.
“I have personally met with local Members of Parliament and commercial and recreational fishers and have heard their concerns with some of the reform options.
“The views of stakeholders will be carefully considered by an independent committee of experts before any final decisions are made,” the Minister said.
For background information, and a timeline for the Commercial Fisheries Reform Program, visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/commercial/reform.
