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Fishing Anomoly Leads To Waste Of Resource: Hall

An anomaly between Commonwealth and State commercial fishing licences is leading to the waste of a valuable resource, environmental concerns and frustration for fisherman, according to Gippsland MP, Peter Hall.

By Peter Hall - 26th April 2005 - Back to News

The Nationals’ MP has called for the State Minister for Agriculture to address the issue of trawl by-catch and the different laws at State and Commonwealth level as a matter of urgency.

Under state licence, up to 400 kilograms of trawl by-catch – that is, those species caught while trawling for another specific catch – can be retained by the fisherman. An example of by-catch is when a licensed holder might be trawling for prawns and catches fin fish in the nets, particularly in the Gippsland Lakes, like whiting, flathead or John Dory.

However, under the Commonwealth licensing arrangements retention of by-catch is not allowed.

Mr Hall raised the matter in Parliament, saying it raised confusion among commercial fishermen and often the ire of recreational fishermen.

"This particular matter was raised by one of my constituents from Lakes Entrance, who is a licensed professional fisherman," Mr Hall told Parliament. "If you hold a Victorian inshore trawl licence you are allowed to retain 400 kilograms of by-catch on each trip.

"However, if the licensee has a commonwealth permit attached to the same boat, that by-catch of quota species is not allowed and must be simply dumped over the side of the boat.

"This requirement seems to be an illogical injustice in relation to those fishermen who happen to hold both a state and a federal government licence."

Mr Hall said that in the last month one fisherman had to dump at least a tonne of by-catch that would have netted him somewhere between perhaps $2.50 and $5 per kilogram, between $2500 to $5000 worth in total.

"That is also a loss of a tonne of seafood for Victorian consumers," Mr Hall said. "I would also suggest that this is a serious environmental issue, given that the survival rate of by-catch is of real concern. Some species may survive being caught in the net and then being re-released over the side of the boat, but other species will not survive that."

Mr Hall is also concerned about the controversy that could surround such a practice among recreational fishers.

"When they see fish being dumped over the side of the professional boat and later dying and being washed up on the shore, it exacerbates the concerns expressed by recreational fishermen."

Mr Hall said it was an anomaly that needs to be addressed urgently by the Minister for Agriculture. "It is a needless waste of the very important and valuable fishing resource that we have in Victorian waters."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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