Qld Net Fishing Buyback Scheme

[Gad]

Taken from Fisheries CatchNews

Nov.28

The Queensland Government has delivered on its commitment and completed its $9 million buyback of in-shore net fishing licences.

Commercial net fishers on the East Coast had made the most of the opportunity to participate in the Queensland Government’s net buyback scheme.

In just over two years, the scheme has reduced the total potential effort in the East Coast inshore net fishery by around 25 per cent. The buyback process has guarded against a simple transfer of effort and provides a significant reduction in effort.

Other fisheries will also benefit because additional commercial fishing authorities across the trawl crab and line fisheries were voluntarily surrendered as part of the process.

The buyback scheme has now closed following the expenditure of the remaining funds in the first and second stages of the final scheme.

For more information on the process contact QRAA on 1800 623 946 or for more information on the buyback contact Fisheries Queensland on 13 25 23.

[Gad]

Please excuse my cynical side rearing it`s presence again.

Quote{ In just over two years, the scheme has reduced the total potential effort in the East Coast inshore net fishery by around 25 per cent }….

Ok, does anyone know if these ‘buy back’ licences were being actively worked at the time of ‘buy back’ if so, will/have their previous catch tonnage been reduced from the yearly inshore net fishery allowable quota and therefore there is/will be a real reduction in harvest, meaning the fishery is benefitting from the $9 million outlay.

Or is this once again political BS saying’ we payed out $9 million to buy back xxx amount of unviable/underworked/non worked licences, and the allowable catch quota will remain at roughly the same as previously allowed, and there is no actual betterment to the fishery as a whole.

[Luc53]

I'd bet those were latent licences (not being used) and nothing stopping them turning around and going straight back in.

Licenses and endorsements are traded like shares.