Queensland Net Free Zones to go Ahead

[Gad]

Taken from FW email newsletter

15-10-15

A DISALLOWANCE motion moved by the LNP to overturn recent Net Free Areas in Queensland has been defeated overnight.

The motion by member for Nanango Deb Frecklington against the proposed Net Free Area commitment from the ALP showed complete discarded to letters of support from the likes of Queensland Tourism Industry Council, The caravan Parks Association of Queensland, The Caravan Industry of Australia, the Tackle Industry of Queensland, WWF, AMCS, Australia Marine Conservation Society, Care Fish, Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance Inc. Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance Inc. Queensland Amateur Fishing Clubs Association, ANSA Australia National Sports Fishing Association Ltd. and many other high profile endorsements.

This move by the LNP opposition was an attempt to derail the legislation needed to implement the three Net Free Areas in Queensland and clarified its position in relation to recreational fishing.The final count saw 46 "No" votes from Labor, Katter Party and Independents, while 41 "I" votes came from the LNP.

The result means Labor's election promise to fully implement three commercial net free zones at St Helens Beach to Cape Hillsborough, Keppel Bay to Fitzroy River and Trinity Bay will go ahead as planned from the 1st of November 2015.

Net free Area campaigner and chairman of the Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance, Scott Mitchell told Fishing World the outcome is an important win for Queensland's rec fishing community.

"It's a turning point in Queensland fisheries management," said Mitchell.

Mitchell said this decision will assist future discussions around the Great Sandy Marine Park when negotiations begin next year in line with the full term 10 year review. While there's fierce opposition from a vocal minority, Mitchell is confident overwhelming support will result in a positive outcome for the Marine Park and other areas of the state, including Moreton Bay.

[Gad]

Qld Seafood Industry Assocation say its sad day for fishers
/>http://www.qt.com.au/news/net-free-fishing-zones-be-introduced-cap-coas/2807836/

15th Oct 2015 7.30am

THE Capricorn Coast will see net-free fishing zones introduced, after Members in the Parliament voted against a bid from the opposition to stop the implementation of the zones.

Three Net Free Zones will be implemented on November 1 in the Yeppoon-Keppel Bay-Fitzroy River, Trinity Bay in Cairns and from St Helen's Beach to Cape Hillsborough, north of Mackay.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne said he was pleased to see the disallowance motion made by the opposition was unsuccessful.

"Net-free zones are a common sense approach to resource sharing and will offer significant benefits in tourism and recreational fishing in Queensland," Mr Byrne said.

"It is a key initiative in Queensland's commitment to the Reef2050 Plan and we stand by our election promise.

"The LNP have showed their hand when it comes to Net Free Zones highlighting that tourism, injections to our local economy and sustainability are not important to them.

"The LNP have tried to play politics with a policy that will only bring benefits to this state, and as a result have failed in their attempts to block this important change to our fishing industry."

Minister Byrne said while the new Net Free Zones will be great for Queensland, the Government has listened to the views of those affected commercial fishers and as a result will be boosting the adjustment package with a scheme for acutely impacted commercial fishers

"For those fishers who have logged 60 or more days of netting effort in a net-free fishing zone and who have also more than 50 per cent of their netting effort in the zones between 2012 and 2014, they will be eligible for the additional offer," Mr Byrne said.

"This offer, called the Impact Alleviation Scheme, will be made to eligible commercial fishing licence holders.

"This is in addition to the Buyback Scheme and Settlement Scheme.

"Ten million dollars has been set aside to buyback licences from fishers who want to transition out of the industry and to help fishers adjust to the introduction of the zones."

The maps for the net-free areas are available at www.daf.qld.gov.au.

15-10-1511am: update

Qld Seafood Industry Association released a statement this morning declaring it is a sad day for commercial fishers.

The QSIA stated that in another first for the State Government, poor fisheries management won the day and bans on net-fishing have been passed by the Labor Party and independents.

QSIA stated that the parliamentary debate over net free zones (NFZs) last night revealed the extent to which the State government has no idea about fisheries management.

QSIA Deputy President Keith Harris said the member for Ipswich and Chair of the Agriculture and Environment, Ms Jennifer Howard MP, has demonstrated her total lack of understanding of how fisheries are managed in a shared way despite her support for the regulation that will introduce the NFZs in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.

"The NFZ proposals do nothing but give recreational fishers access to net caught species and prevent commercial fishers from making a living," Mr Harris said.

"The State government made an incredibly political statement by supporting the NFZs - they are saying to Queenslanders your rights do not matter, fisheries management do not matter and the exclusion of profitable and viable local small businesses do not matter.

"This ludicrous, unfair and unjustified policy is a political ploy and the Minister knows this to be true. Commercial fishers in Queensland and across Australia need to pay attention to and be very afraid of the precedent set last night."

[kmcrosby78]

Great news!! Bring on Great Sandy Marine Park and Moreton Bay following suit. Good also to hear that they are offering extra compensations to those commercial fishers most affected - appears (from the outside looking in) to be well thought out.