Pros welcome Government's stand on fishing

The Professional Fishermen’s Association (PFA) has welcomed the recent statement from the NSW Government in support of a sustainable and viable commercial fishing industry for NSW. 

At the opening of the new Fisheries Office at Coffs Harbour, the Hon. Katrina Hodgkinson, Minister for Fisheries announced the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Statement of Intent. The statement emphasised the Government’s “commitment to revitalising the commercial fishing industry in NSW”.

Tricia Beatty, Executive Office for the PFA said: "The statement provides assurance to the industry that the NSW Government is committed to building a strong, sustainable and economically viable commercial fishing industry."

"Our industry is currently going through a significant industry restructure and many within the industry are concerned about their futures within it. At this critical time in our industry, we welcome the government’s announcement that they believe our industry has a strong future ahead," Ms Beatty said.

In a recent statement, the PFA said that the NSW wild-harvest commercial fishing industry is a dynamic network of skilled businesses. Commercial fishers, wholesalers, processors and retailers work together with the restaurant and catering industry to supply fresh seafood to communities across the state, as well as to interstate and overseas markets.

The statement went on to say that the wild-harvest commercial fishing managed under NSW jurisdiction is a vibrant industry that is worth more than $90-million dollars at first point of sale. The industry underpins the economy of many coastal towns providing wealth and employment in places, and at times of the year, where there is little other economic activity. The health benefits of seafood are well known and the industry is rising to the challenge of ensuring that fresh seafood is available not just along the coast, but throughout NSW.

"We welcome the minister’s statement that she has every confidence that the flow on benefits to industry investment, growth and productivity will be enjoyed by commercial fishers and through the supply chain for many years to come," Ms Beatty said.

Meantime, anglers are up in arms over the discovery of thousands of undersized bream that were netted and dumped around Seal Rocks; the ongoing netting of 'old man' bream from small and often closed estuaries on the NSW South Coast, and the extent of commercial fishing in Pittwater and the Hawkesbury. 

The NSW Government's response to these fishing concerns has been to brush them off and repeat the sustainable mantra, as it strengthens ties with the commercial fishing industry and primary producers in keeping with Minister Hodgkinson's background.