25 May, 2012
Conservation groups support call for reform of NSW commercial fisheries
Conservation groups today welcomed the publication of an independent report into the New South Wales commercial fishing sector, but said that all stakeholders must be included in implementing reforms.
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the Australian Marine Conservation Society and WWF-Australia called on the NSW Minister for Primary Industries to implement a fundamental reform of fisheries management in the state, as recommended by the Independent Report into NSW Commercial Fisheries Policy, Management and Administration.
WWF’s marine spokesperson Michael Harte said the report’s proposals for reform would put the NSW fishing industry on the road to recovery, but only if fully implemented.
“Commercial fishermen have been doing it tough in NSW for far too long,” Dr Harte said.
“It’s hard for fishermen to be green when they’re in the red.
“The recommendations in today’s report reflect international best practice in the sustainable management of fisheries. These reforms are desperately needed if we are to have a sustainable and profitable commercial industry into the future.”
AMCS fisheries spokesperson Tooni Mahto said reforms were needed to make sure the marine ecosystem wasn’t forgotten.
“If we want fishing businesses to be both profitable and sustainable, we must make sure our marine environment remains healthy,” Ms Mahto said.
“The report tells us that we don’t even know what the health is of stocks of half the species caught commercially in NSW. No commercial fisherman can have a secure future while there is this much uncertainty.
“The NSW Government must complement management reforms with greater efforts to collect the data needed to manage our fisheries. Better data can also help target reforms and retirement of certain sectors in economic trouble or those with a large ecological footprint such as shark fisheries.”
NCCNSW’s Pepe Clarke called for broad representation on the proposed Ministerial Fisheries Advisory Council.
“For the public to have faith that reforms are being implemented transparently, it is vital that all stakeholders with relevant expertise, including conservationists, have representation on the Advisory Council,” Mr Clarke said.
“The Advisory Council must not simply be a closed shop for officials and representatives of the commercial fishing sector.”
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Marine Conservation
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