Increased netting of NSW estuaries?

The Government is asking commercial fishers and other stakeholders to provide feedback as part of the reform program for NSW commercial fishing.

The Commercial Fisheries Reform Program was developed in response to an Independent Review into NSW Commercial Fisheries Policy, Management and Administration in 2012. "The proposed reforms involve linking shares in each fishery to either catch or fishing effort," said Katrina Hodgkinson, Minister for Primary Industries.

"The NSW Government has developed a $16 million structural adjustment package to provide for fishers to exit the industry and to help others set up their businesses for the future. The reform program aims to remove unnecessary fishing controls and improve the general management of commercial fisheries in NSW,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

"The reform options papers, prepared by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), have been sent directly to commercial fishing shareholders, who can provide feedback using the included submission form, or by preparing their own submission.

"The papers are also publicly available online on the DPI website and all interested parties are invited to lodge a submission," she added.

The released public consultation papers outline the reform options that may apply to each of the major commercial fisheries. These include:
>> Estuary general
>> Estuary prawn trawl
>> Ocean hauling
>> Ocean trap and line
>> Ocean trawl

As usual, the devil is in the detail, says the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW. Some of the proposed reforms include lifting commercial fishing restrictions in several South Coast lakes and estuaries such as allowing mesh netting in parts of Merimbula Lake, and reducing restrictions on commercial fishing in Coila Lake and the Shoalhaven and Moruya Rivers, removing the ban on haul netting in a section of Wallaga Lake at Bermagui and mesh netting would be permitted on weekdays in parts of Wapengo Lake.

The reforms also propose lifting the ban on ocean haul netting for popular recreational fishing species such as salmon and tailor and the inclusion of kingfish as a 'conditional target species' for commercial netting.

At the completion of the consultation process, a summary of submissions, input from key groups and advice from DPI will be provided to the Independent Structural Adjustment Review Committee (SARC).

SARC will then prepare final recommendations for the consideration of the NSW Government.

All reform options papers and further information regarding the Commercial Fisheries Reform Program can be found at the link below.

The closing date for submissions is May 19.

For more information go to: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/commercial/reform