Crab Bag Limits

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Fisheries. Can the minister inform the house why he increased crab bag limits for commercial fishers, but not for recreational fishers?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (14:21): Thank you very much for the question, member for Mount Gambier. There was a story in the paper last week from an organisation that is not the recognised recreational fishing group here. I did look at that story and ask some questions of our people in fisheries and they said that it was actually factually incorrect.

What we do is we work really closely with RecFish SA and we have a really good relationship with them. I'm not sure who the other organisation are. I think they have just come about in the last year or so, but one thing that is really important is that we all just stick to the facts around fishing. It is really important. We have 277,000 people who go fishing in South Australia each year. It is a finite resource and we need to make sure that we have the right balance there, so for King George whiting, as an example, 48—

Mr KNOLL: Point of order: I would like you to ask the minister to come back to the substance of the question, which was very specifically about crab bag limits.

The SPEAKER: Does the minister have a tip for the cup?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Sir, we are talking about all the fish in the sea and how—

The SPEAKER: No, I think we are actually dealing with crustaceans.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, we are, but we need to explain that there is a balance there between the commercial take and the recreational take and I was giving the example of King George whiting.

Mr Bell: You gave the commercial guys an increase you didn't give the rec. I'm just asking why not.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: No, that's what it said in the paper. I'm not sure that that's accurate.

Mr Knoll: What is accurate?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I will bring an answer back.

Mr Knoll: You said you got a briefing from your department and now you still don't know the answer.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: No, I didn't say I had a briefing. I spoke to the—

The SPEAKER: The minister will not respond to interjections. The red light will soon be flashing.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Thank you very much. I will bring back an answer to the house.

The SPEAKER: Pursuant to the standing orders, the house stands suspended.

Sitting suspended from 14:24 to 15:25.