Ministerial Statement

SNAPPER FISHERY

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:24): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement on the snapper spawning spatial closures.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Since early 2011, Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) has been reviewing snapper management arrangements. This review was initiated in response to concerns about the future sustainability of the fishery as a result of increasing commercial effort and a concentration of targeted fishing activity on breeding aggregations by all fishing sectors—commercial, recreational and charter.

A number of changes have been already implemented to control the level of commercial impact on snapper stocks and to provide greater protection to snapper spawning aggregations from targeted fishing. Following a six-week public consultation process and targeted consultation with commercial and recreational fishers, local government and also tourism representatives, PIRSA has today announced new management measures that further protect snapper spawning aggregations in South Australian waters.

The state government is determined that snapper at five key aggregation sites will now be protected across their entire breeding season, which is from 1 November 2013 to 31 January 2014. All fishing sectors will be prohibited from being in possession of or taking snapper within four sites on the Spencer Gulf and one site on Gulf St Vincent. Each closure has a four-kilometre radius. These spatial closures are in addition to the statewide snapper fishing closure from midday 1 November to midday 15 December.

These sites are well known areas where snapper form spawning aggregations of groups of thousands of fish that gather together in greater densities than normal with the specific purpose of reproducing. These closures will maximise the opportunity for successful reproduction and recruitment at these key aggregation sites. The government has been mindful of the potential economic, social and tourism impacts of the closures, given the importance of snapper to all fishing sectors and coastal communities, and it is important to note that the final closure areas have been reduced in size by more than half (previously two eight-kilometre and two 10-kilometre radial closures) and the closure in the Spencer Gulf has been split into two smaller closures.

As well as lessening the potential impact to fishers and regional communities, the reduction in the size of the closures will also facilitate improved vessel movement around the closures, which was raised during the consultation process. There will still be abundant snapper fishing opportunities outside the closure areas, which remain open to fishing between 15 December and 31 January. Throughout the consultation process there was clear support from all sectors for the government to take further action to secure the long-term sustainability of this particular species.

Clearly, any measure we put in place that affects our fishery has an impact on those businesses that rely on that particular species and the local communities where those people live and work; however, we have to weigh those impacts up against the impact of an industry that collapses completely through overfishing and loss of economic viability. Commercial fishers know and understand that and are generally supportive of these measures. They understand how important it is that we have sustainable fisheries here in South Australia.

It is also important to note that other snapper fishing opportunities will remain outside the closed areas, and other key species can be caught during this time; therefore, the new measures may influence a change in fishing practices during this time, rather than stopping activity. PIRSA has consulted widely on the development of the spatial closures with major stakeholders, including RecFish SA, the Surveyed Charter Boat Owners and Operators Association and local government involved throughout the process. I am pleased to note that Mr Mike Fooks, the chairman of the Marine Fishers Association, which represents more than 330 commercial fishers, has welcomed the announcement by PIRSA.

Ultimately these important changes will help to secure the sustainability of our snapper stocks well into the future and, of course, these stocks are a very important part of our fisheries. The spatial closures will be reviewed before the annual closure begins in November 2014 and further information is available on our website.