SOUTHERN ZONE ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY

Mr PEGLER (Mount Gambier) (15:34): My question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. Can the minister inform the house why he has reopened the southern zone rock lobster fishery during the month of October? Can he also provide advice on the outlook for the future rock lobster stocks in the fishery?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Northern Suburbs) (15:34): I thank the member for Mount Gambier for the question and I acknowledge his advocacy on behalf of commercial fishermen of the southern zone rock lobster fishery in the South-East. This is undoubtedly an important industry for his electorate, as it is for the member for MacKillop. The rock lobster industry is valuable to the entire state, with the southern and northern zone fisheries bringing in a combined total of $85.8 million to the South Australian economy in the last financial year, and the bulk of this was through exports to China. So it is a very important export industry and one that underpins a large number of communities in the South-East.

The primary tool used to ensure fishing occurs within ecologically manageable limits is through setting a quota on the total allowable commercial catch, the TACC. Due to concerns about the long-term sustainability of the southern zone rock lobster fishery, the 2010-11 quota was set at 1,250 tonnes, which was 150 tonnes lower than the 2009-10 quota. As an additional precautionary measure—as I am obliged under the act—the fishery was closed during the month of October 2010 with the possibility of a further closure during October 2011.

Independent scientific data gathered from the 2010-11 season suggests a significant improvement in the health of the southern zone rock lobster fishery. The data has informed us that for the first time in four years the quota was fully taken in the southern zone; the pot lift, which is the weight of lobsters pulled from the ocean on every pot haul, was 56 per cent higher than in 2010-11; and the average number of days fished during the 2010-11 season was 35 per cent lower than in 2009-10, which meant that fishermen spent less time at sea to catch their quota. In day terms this was 114 days compared with 175 days in the previous year. In a practical sense this means less in fuel and wage costs for those businesses.

This notable improvement in the performance of the fishery during 2010-11 and the evidence of a strong recruitment pulse for the year 2011-12—that is the number of undersized fish that are caught; it gives an indication of the catch several years in advance, the biomass and the probability of good catches in the coming years—was sufficient to convince me that we no longer have to close the month of October to fishing. That is particularly important. I think a number of members would know this is one month that we fish that is not fished anywhere else in Australia. The member for MacKillop would well know—he has raised it with me—that it gives us a premium in the Chinese market. So in the South-East there is great satisfaction with this particular decision.

As I said, as a result I have announced that the 2011-12 fishing season will run from 1 October 2011 until 31 May 2012 for both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors. it should be noted that the fishery is still in a historically low position. There is general agreement between all stakeholders that the quota shall remain at 1,250 tonnes for the southern zone to facilitate continued stock rebuilding, and I concur. The decision I took was based on a revised harvest strategy for the southern zone, which includes decision rules to guide the process of setting a quota. The revised strategy was developed by a rock lobster working group made up of an independent chair, independent scientist, PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, and industry experts from the southern zone. The strategy will underpin future management of the zone and provide a structured framework for decision-making in line with the Fisheries Management Act 2007.

I would like to put on the public record my appreciation for the work of the working group in developing the harbour strategy, especially the employment of a decision tree methodology to arrive at recommendations for ministerial consideration and the setting of clearly defined trigger points for movements either way in the setting of the fishery quota recommendations. My view is also shared by the industry. Ms Catherine Barnett, independent chair of the South Australian Rock Lobster Advisory Committee, said:

The level of collaboration between industry, PIRSA Fisheries and SARDI Aquatic Sciences over the past months to arrive at this point must be commended.

Mr Justin Phillips, Executive Officer for the South Eastern Professional Fisherman's Association Incorporated, has echoed Ms Barnett's comments, and I quote:

There has been significant work and cooperation between [the] industry, PIRSA Fisheries and SARDI Aquatic Sciences to get [us] to this point, and...all [the] stakeholders have worked together [and this] must be acknowledged.

I am sure the members for Mount Gambier and MacKillop share these sentiments.

Mr Pengilly: O'Brien for premier is what I reckon.

The SPEAKER: Thank you for your opinion, member for Finniss. Member for Norwood.