Preliminary pages
Foreword
‘When The Boat
Comes In’ (or ‘Dance Ti Thy Daddy’)
Dance to your
Daddy, my little laddy
Dance to your
Daddy, my little man
Thou shalt have a
fish and thou shalt have a fin
Thou shalt have a
codlin when the boat comes in
Thou shalt have
haddock baked in a pan
A traditional English folk song, originating in
Northumberland, where mothers sang to their little ones as they waited for
their fishermen to come back from the treacherous North Sea.
Fishing is the activity of catching fish. It is an ancient
practice dating back at least 40,000 years. Many species have come and gone
depending on climate and fishing habits, but fish have remained part of our
diet through the ages.
Since the 16th century, fishing vessels have been able to
cross oceans in pursuit of fish and since the 19th century it has been possible
to use larger vessels and, in some cases, process the fish on board. Fish are
normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand
gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping.
The term fishing may be applied to catching other aquatic
animals such as shellfish, cephalopods, crustaceans, and echinoderms. The term
is not usually applied to catching aquatic mammals, such as whales, where the
term whaling is more appropriate, or to farmed fish. In addition to providing
food, modern fishing is also a recreational sport.
FAO statistics tell us that the total number of fishermen
and fish farmers across the world is estimated to be 38 million. Fisheries and
aquaculture provide direct and indirect employment to over 500 million people. In
2005, the worldwide per capita consumption of fish captured from wild fisheries
was 14.4 kilograms, with an additional 7.4 kilograms harvested from fish farms.
Australia is a small player globally, but fishing is still a
vital part of our economy. However, there are many opinions about how to run
the industry and how much involvement should come from Government.
This inquiry was due to the fact that little attention had
been paid the fishing industry in recent times and yet there have been many
changes in both the wild fisheries and aquaculture that has attracted some
fairly contradictory legislation. AFMA had played a good solid role in
developing a hands-off approach to managing our commercial fisheries. But it
was time to take a look at this industry and review its capabilities.
As it happened, towards the end of our inquiry a controversy
arrived in the shape of a super trawler that quickly became a ‘bogey man’. Although
there was sufficient legislation to control its activities, the community was
mobilised to oppose it through fear, despite the fact that scientists working
in the field explained that it would have no greater impact than others using
similar methods of fishing.
Thus it exposed weaknesses in our legislative processes and
caused rifts not only in the fishing community, but also among elected members
of Parliament. Emergency measures were taken, not necessarily in the interests
of the industry.
The Committee took a large amount of evidence across the
country which gave us a good insight into the industry but also pointed to many
inconsistencies in dealing with the various fishing levels and aquaculture
changes.
This led me to believe that there should be some way of
developing a national regional fishing policy statement for fisheries,
aquaculture and recreational fishing that would allow the industry to start
setting its goals through regional fishing agreements that run for up to twenty
years, but with reviews every five years. This way all processes can be
reviewed regularly, while allowing some certainty in the industry to encourage
investment.
Lastly, I wish to thank members of the Committee, the
Secretariat and all the individuals and organisations who contributed to the
inquiry.
Hon Dick Adams MP
Chair
Membership of the
Committee
|
Chair
|
Hon Dick Adams MP
|
|
|
Deputy
Chair
|
Mr Alby Schultz MP
|
|
|
Members
|
Mr Darren Cheeseman MP
|
Mr Geoff Lyons MP
|
|
|
Mr George Christensen MP
|
Mr Rob Mitchell MP
|
|
|
Mr Tony Crook MP (Supplementary)
|
Mr Dan Tehan MP
|
Committee Secretariat
|
Secretary
|
Mr David Brunoro
|
|
Inquiry
Secretary
|
Mr Thomas Gregory
|
|
Research
Officer
|
Mr Nathan Fewkes
|
|
Administrative
Officers
|
Ms Dorota Cooley
|
| |
Ms Louise Goss |
Terms of reference
The Committee will inquire into and report upon the role of
science for the future of fisheries and aquaculture, and in particular:
a) the
relationship between scientific knowledge of fish species, ecosystems,
biodiversity and fish stock sustainability;
b) fishery management and biosecurity, including but
not limited to:
- the
calculation and monitoring of stock size, sustainable yield and bycatch, as
well as related data collection
- the
effects of climate change, especially relating to species dispersion, stock
levels and impacts on fishing communities
- pest and disease
management and mitigation
- minimising risks to
the natural environment and human health
- cooperation among
Australian governments on the above
c) research, development and applied science of
aquaculture, including:
- transitioning from
wild fisheries to aquaculture in individual species
- improving
sustainability and lifecycle management practices and outcomes
- pest and disease
management and mitigation
d) governance
arrangements relating to fisheries and aquaculture, including the implications
for sustainability and industry development;
e) current
initiatives and responses to the above matters by state, territory and
Australian governments;
f) any other related matter.
List of abbreviations
|
ABARES
|
Australian Bureau of Agricultural
Research and Economics
|
|
AFMA
|
Australian Fisheries Management
Authority
|
|
AFZ
|
Australian fishing zone
|
|
AIMS
|
Australian Institute for Marine
Science
|
|
AMA
|
Australian Marine Alliance
|
|
AMCS
|
Australian Marine Conservation
Society
|
|
AMSA
|
Australian Marine Sciences
Association
|
|
APFA
|
Australian Prawn Farmers
Association
|
|
CFA
|
Commonwealth Fisheries
Association
|
|
CRCs
|
Cooperative Research Centres
|
|
CSIRO
|
Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organisation
|
|
DAFF
|
Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry
|
|
DCCEE
|
Department of Climate Change and
Energy Efficiency
|
|
DPI
|
Department of Primary Industries
(NSW)
|
|
DPIPWE
|
Department of Primary Industries,
Parks, Water and Environment (Tas)
|
|
EBFM
|
Ecosystems-based fisheries
management
|
|
EEZ
|
Exclusive Economic Zone
|
|
EPBC Act
|
Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Act 1999
|
|
ERM
|
Ecological risk management
|
|
ESD
|
Ecologically sustainable
development
|
|
FA Act
|
Fisheries Administration Act
1991
|
|
FAO
|
Food and Agriculture Organisation
|
|
FM Act
|
Fisheries Management Act 1991
|
|
FRDC
|
Fisheries Research and
Development Corporation
|
|
FSANZ
|
Food Standards Australia and New
Zealand
|
|
HSP
|
Harvest Strategy Policy
|
|
IMAS
|
Institute for Marine and
Antarctic Studies
|
|
ISA
|
Infectious salmon anaemia
|
|
JCU
|
James Cook University
|
|
MEY
|
Maximum economic yield
|
|
MSC
|
Marine Stewardship Council
|
|
MSY
|
Maximum sustainable yield
|
|
MPA
|
Marine protected area
|
|
NAC
|
National Aquaculture Council
|
|
OCS
|
Offshore Constitutional
Settlement
|
|
RD&E
|
Research, development and
extension
|
|
SBT
|
Southern bluefin tuna
|
|
SEWPaC
|
Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities
|
|
TSGA
|
Tasmanian Salmonid Growers
Association
|
|
TSIC
|
Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council
|
|
UWA
|
University of Western Australia
|
|
WAFIC
|
Western Australian Fishing
Industry Council
|
|
WWF
|
World Wildlife Fund
|
List of recommendations
2 Background
Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that the Fisheries Research and
Development Corporation conduct and publish an annual audit of total national
investment in fisheries and aquaculture research, development and extension.
3 Fisheries
Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government
continue to publish a consolidated stock report for all Australian fisheries on
a regular basis, after the initial publication of such a report in 2012, in
consultation with State and Territory governments.
Recommendation 3
The Committee believes that precaution is about managing risk;
and therefore recommends that a new guideline on precaution be developed with
agreement and support of stakeholders, for inclusion in a new national regional
policy statement for fisheries, aquaculture and recreational fishing.
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government
expedite the creation and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation
strategy for the national Commonwealth marine reserves network – to ensure that
they are well managed and thoroughly evaluated, before consideration of any new
MPAs domestically and globally. A timeline should be announced to show:
- when
a complete monitoring strategy will be in place;
- when
a full evaluation will be completed; and
- when
the findings of the evaluation will be implemented.
Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that the Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry work with State and Territory counterparts to commission
a regular estimate of recreational fishing activity and impacts in Australia,
with data and results published in a yearly consolidated report, using a
nationally agreed data collection model.
Recommendation 6
The Committee recommends that COAG seek to harmonise, where
there is agreement, recreational fishing licensing, rules and data collection.
Recommendation 7
The Committee recommends that the current review of
Commonwealth fisheries management consider whether revisions to the Fisheries
Management Act 1991 are necessary to allow the Australian Government to
more readily manage recreational fishing activity in Commonwealth waters.
Recommendation 8
The Committee recommends that the 2008 preliminary assessment
of the ‘Implications of Climate Change for Australian Fisheries and
Aquaculture’ be developed by the Department of Climate Change and Energy
Efficiency into a more comprehensive study, to include broad strategic issues
and localised impacts.
Recommendation 9
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government ensure
there is a continued strong effort to monitor and analyse the effects of
climate change on Australia’s oceans and communities.
Recommendation 10
The Committee recommends that the Australian Primary
Industries Ministerial Council commission a review of the ‘National Fishing and
Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 2010’, to assess progress in achieving the
Strategy’s aims, in particular in regard to the co-ordination of Australia’s
scientific effort. The review should consider whether additional mechanisms are
necessary to complement the strategy, such as a regular national fisheries research,
development and extension forum or registry of research projects.
4 Aquaculture
Recommendation 11
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work
with state and territory governments to develop further conservation agreements
to streamline assessments under the EPBC Act, to facilitate the growth
of aquaculture.
Recommendation 12
The Committee recommends the Australian Government, through
the Council of Australian Governments, lead the development and agreement of a
detailed and comprehensive national aquaculture policy, including the roles and
responsibilities of all governments, to address (amongst others) the issues
contained in paragraph 4.89, at least in the areas of:
- National
ambition;
- Governance;
- Regional
planning;
- Community
agreement;
- Technology;
and
- International
competitiveness
5 Biosecurity, certification and international aid and
cooperation
Recommendation 13
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government update
AquaPlan as soon as possible.
Recommendation 14
The Committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry develop a model for funding and enhancing aquatic
disease control and aquatic veterinary training, possibly including an industry
levy, as a matter of urgency.
Recommendation 15
The Committee recommends the Legislative and Governance Forum
on Food Regulation formulate an independent mechanism for conducting a
performance audit or review of the entire food standards system.
Recommendation 16
The Committee recommends that, while protecting Australian
intellectual property, the Australian Government make available technology and
expertise through aid programs dedicated to fisheries management and
aquaculture production.
Recommendation 17
From within the existing aid budget, the Committee recommends
that the Australian Government increase aid to Pacific Island countries for
projects and programs relating to fisheries management and aquaculture
production.
6 Governance, environmental policy and the way forward
Recommendation 18
The Committee recommends that the Treasurer refer to the
Productivity Commission an inquiry into the efficiency of the fisheries
industry across Australia and the efficiency and effectiveness of the
inter-jurisdictional governance arrangements for Australian fisheries.
Recommendation 19
The Committee recommends that the fisheries management and environment
protection responsibilities of the Australian Government continue to be
administered by separate agencies, but that these agencies work towards a
single application process (and potentially a single point of contact) for
fisheries approvals, with the aim of providing a ‘one-stop-shop’ from the
applicant’s perspective.
Recommendation 20
The Committee recommends that commercial fishing organisations
in Australia form a national peak body. This process could be initially
assisted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry through
facilitating contact and coordination.
Recommendation 21
The Committee recommends that fisheries management should not
be subject to political direction, except as explicitly provided for in
legislation.
Recommendation 22
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government,
through the Council of Australian Governments, lead the development of a
comprehensive national regional policy statement for fisheries, aquaculture and
recreational fishing, which includes:
- an
overall statement of strategic intent to drive future direction;
- a new
guideline on precaution; and
- a
research, development and extension work program.
Navigation: Contents | Next Page
Back to top