Snapper Fishing

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:30): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. Minister, when the recreational snapper fishing in the South-East resumes on 1 July 2021 with a bag limit of one and a boat limit of three, will there be an overall quota and, if so, what will that be?

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:30): I thank the member for his question. It is so important that we manage the fishing sector in South Australia well to make sure there is opportunity for everyone to fish into the future. Unfortunately, we have seen mismanagement of the snapper fishery across South Australia.

On coming into government, we put some plans in place to make sure that we recognised the signs and recognised the dangers to that fishery. We have seen bans in place in every region other than the South-East and we have seen restrictions in the South-East. Each of the different sectors has a total allowable catch within the time frames that we are talking about, so there is a total allowable catch for the rec sector, for the commercial sector, for the charter boat sector and also one for the Indigenous.

Those sectors are allowed to catch up to their total allowable catch so, when we go into that new period of next financial year, yes, there is a total allowable catch. I don't have the actual number on me, but I am more than happy to share that with the member. It is very important that we manage this fishery to make sure the protections are there going forward.