7/27/2019 AMA and NSW Fisheries Meet to Talk Restructure

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MEDIA RELEASE

AMA and NSW Fisheries meet to talk restructure

Yesterday representatives of the commercial fishing, recreational fishing and outboard engine sectors metwith senior NSW Department of Fisheries officials in Martin Place Sydney, for over an hour and a half, to

discuss increasing concerns over the NSW Governments commitment to restructure the NSW fishingindustry.

Dane Van Der Neut, board member of the Australian Marine Alliance (AMA) NSW division and NSWcommercial fisherman highlighted, We were delighted to have been invited to meet with the Director of

NSW fisheries and his team.

As a collective group we were able to place on the table a range of issues that concern the commercial,recreational and allied fishing sectors in NSW. The meeting was very positive and at times tense, but wecovered a lot of ground.

Key issues discussed were:

o The AMA agreed to clearly spell out to members and industry more broadly on our website the

separation between the structural adjustment and marine park review processes;o It was generally acknowledged that the science underpinning the entire process was inadequate and

that more comprehensive scientific analysis was urgently needed to direct policy;

o The Department acknowledged that the restructure process, including reduced bag limits forrecreational anglers, was not a response to depleting stock numbers or concerns aboutsustainability;

o DPI encouraged the AMA to continue to work across all sectors to deliver clarity on key policyissues;

o The AMA argued that key businesses in the outboard industry, local government and tourismsectors affected by this process, were inadequately briefed, represented or included in decision

making forums;o DPI agreed that evidenced based policy was the key to a successful outcome.

Dane Van Der Neut, We left the meeting highlighting that it was now up to the NSW Government to makekey changes to the reform process if it was to avoid what we see as an inevitable policy train wreck.

The recreational fishing sector also have genuine grounds to question process and decisions. The scienceis clearly inadequate and if we are to believe that this is not about the sustainability of key stocks because

in fact stocks are healthy - then why cut bag limits by 50%?

Commercial fisherman also have valid concerns with regard to the objectives of the restructure and thegoal of making their businesses stronger and more financially viable. In fact, we believe the process as it

sits, may well deliver the exact opposite outcome.

The ball is now in the Governments court to change tact and better communicate its intentions, or face ahostile industry.

In essence we all want to stay fishing so lets first have the science placed on the table. A key messagefrom industry is that those who want to exit should do so, however that decision should not adversely affectthose who want to stay.

Media can contact Dane Van Der Neut - 0400 890 351

WWW.AUSTRALIANMARINEALLIANCE.COM.AU

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22 August 2013