Black market seafood fear
NEW options to stop seafood black marketing and create a sustainable fishery are being put forward.
In the past three financial years, there have been 31 complaints of alleged seafood black marketing in Townsville.
A Fisheries Queensland spokeswoman said there were no actual offences detected in Townsville but three Fisheries Infringement Notices were issued to seafood outlets/ restaurants that were unable to produce a docket or did not acquire a docket.
The spokeswoman said these incidents could potentially be linked to black market purchases.
There were 104 complaints in North Queensland – covering Townsville, Ingham, Airlie Beach and Mackay – with six offences detected and nine infringement notices issued in the past three financial years.
“Fisheries officers rely on ongoing community support to provide information about suspected illegal fishing activity,” the spokeswoman said.
As part of a state government discussion paper, there is a proposal to amend the Fisheries Act 1994 to strengthen the enforcement powers of fisheries inspectors and the penalties for serious offences.
The Fisheries Act states that licensed commercial fishers are the only people who can legally sell their catch.
“Selling fish without an authority is called ‘ black marketing’,” the spokeswoman said.
“The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol receives regular complaints about black marketing from the public, but it is sometimes difficult to follow through with the current powers inspectors have.
“There is some evidence that illegal fishing operations are becoming more sophisticated and organised, particularly in high- value, lowvolume fisheries such as mud crab, shark fin, coral trout, spanish mackerel and tropical rock lobster.”
The spokeswoman said these organised activities could potentially involve collusion between unlicensed fishers and some parts of the seafood marketing supply chain.
“Black marketing has the potential to undermine the viability of commercial fishing, the competitiveness of legitimate seafood processors and buyers, lead to unsustainable fishing practices and damage Queensland’s reputation as a producer of high- quality seafood,” she said.
“The community has been calling for change in this area of fisheries legislation for many years and stronger fisheries laws against black marketing will bring Queensland in line with other Australian fisheries management agencies.”
Discussion papers are at daf. qld. gov. au/ sustainablefish eriesstrategy and are open for public feedback until 5pm on May 20.
Fisheries Queensland will also visit regional centres in April and May to take feedback. This will inform development of draft harvest strategies and any amendments to the fisheries regulations, which would come into effect in 2019.