Charter Fishing Industry

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house about how the government is supporting an ongoing regional charter boat fishery in South Australia?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:36): I thank the member for Morphett for his very important question, and I note that he does have charter operators coming out of his electorate, and it is a very, very important industry here in South Australia. Previously, the charter boat industry was worth about $11.2 million, but what we've seen over the last number of years—since 2011 to 2017—is a huge decline in fishing charters here in South Australia.

To be precise, the previous government witnessed, oversaw, a 39 per cent decline in the fishing charter industry. Shame! What we've seen is that it is a crying indictment on what should be a stronger sector. It was a sector ignored by the previous government. What I will say is that this government is going to work with the charter sector to grow and support them to make that industry bigger and better.

This is not about increasing the fishing effort on popular species but about supporting the charter sector to diversify the species caught to ensure that customers can enjoy a good day's fishing. There are many of us who can't afford large fishing boats to go out to see and catch fish. There are many tourists who come to town and want to experience what South Australian waters have to offer—that is, to catch a fish, whether it's for a sporting occasion or whether it's to take a fish home for their families.

On Friday, the government announced a consultation paper on a revised charter boat fishery management plan that seeks to grow the potential of tourism in the industry. The revision is part of a mid-term review of the plan, and includes some new proposals to help revitalise the charter boat fishery here in South Australia and take advantage of the opportunities that are before us on a day-to-day basis. There was a group, and I thank them for their input.

Some of the exciting things that we as a government are looking to highlight in the proposed plan—it's about rock lobster. It's proposed to introduce and streamline the process for charter fishers to conduct rock lobster pot fishing to encourage tourists to take up the opportunity. It's about giving a tourist an opportunity of pulling a lobster pot. There's no better sight than pulling a lobster pot in the ocean and having a flapping lobster coming into the boat, I can assure you.

One of the other things is that as a red-tape reduction measure it's proposed that the boat limits will be removed for the charter sector in favour of a per-person limit. That is to ensure the sustainability. Bag limits will be reduced for the charter sector. Under the proposed plan, government would work with industry and relevant organisations to explore strategies that support tourism in the charter boat sector.

In conclusion, we want to make sure that South Australia is a destination for recreational fishers, and this includes a strong and vibrant experience provided by the charter boat industry. I encourage every interested person to jump onto the PIRSA website, read the consultation paper and provide feedback—hashtag #RegionsMatter.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The members for Heysen and Waite are called to order. The member for Giles has the call.