With many familiar Great Lakes fishers’ names appearing on the submissions list, the February 28 due date for the inquiry’s interim recommendations will not come too soon for some.
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There were 168 submissions made to the parliamentary committee responsible for the inquiry into the State government’s fishers reforms. The help hotline had received more than 1500 calls by mid December. Over 100 applications for the low interest loans had been received.
Answering supplementary questions at the inquiry in December, the Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries (DPI) admitted that some fishing co-ops “may be impacted by a number of factors including generational change in the industry and the reforms,” but said the government “has put in place a range of assistance measures to help Co-ops manage the expected change.”
It cited payments of $30,000 for obtaining specialist business advice on how Co-ops may adjust their businesses depending on what their members choose to do through the program; short term rent subsidies for fishing Co-ops on Crown Land and standardised long terms leases for fishing Co-ops on Crown Land.
Information released in January on the NSW Parliament’s website revealed 131 applications for fishing business buyouts had been received by December 19, with the vast majority amalgamations of existing businesses with a common owner. When the government put together its package for the industry, it expected 121 inactive fishing businesses might opt to exit the industry or consolidate.
It also said it was investigating strengthening country of origin labelling so that benefits can be extended into the cooked seafood market, providing consumers with knowledge on where the cooked seafood they purchase comes from.
With a focus on research and stock assessments of 117 species in the fishing industry, further questions surrounding the Cronulla Fisheries Research Facility were raised to the Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries. Answers reveal 50 per cent of 117 DPI Fisheries staff were relocated to new locations following the facility’s closure. Nine of eighteen scientists still work for DPI Fisheries. Six of thirteen responsible for stock assessment remain.
The government is considering the feasibility of conducting a social impact assessment and the scope of such an assessment.
