New fisheries outline online
THE proposed direction for reforming the state’s trawl, crab and east coast inshore fisheries has been revealed.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner, said a directions paper on fisheries reform was the next step to create a world-class fisheries management system under the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to making these key fisheries sustainable for the future, profitable for the commercial sector and enjoyable for recreational fishing,” he said.
“The overwhelming mess- age from stakeholders to a number of reviews since 2014, is that fisheries management must change. Doing nothing is not an option when the current system is not working.
“There are few catch limits, poor fisheries compliance, high conflict between stakeholders and concerns about bycatch and protected species interactions.”
Mr Furner said the proposed reforms had followed input from all sectors since the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy’s release in June 2017.
He said there would be another opportunity for people to have their say when proposed regulatory amendments are released for feedback in April.
The Queensland Government expects to implement the reforms by September. The directions paper on fisheries reform is available online at www.fisheries.qld.gov.au