Snapper Fishery

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:12): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the state government's snapper restocking program and why is it important to help the snapper fishery rebound?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for his question. As part of the decision taken last year to keep the snapper fishery closed until 2026, the state government announced an $8.8 million package with a range of measures aimed at giving the species the best chance to recover, as well as measures aimed at easing the impact of the ongoing closure on the commercial and recreational industries due to the species' importance across all fishing sectors.

Along with the significant $5 million science program and $2.4 million in fee relief, one of the key measures was the $1.2 million snapper fingerling program run out of the SARDI headquarters at West Beach. Nearly one million fingerlings are expected to be released across the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf over the next two years and I am pleased to be able to say that the first 100,000 of those will be released near Port Pirie next week.

It was great to join Dr Mike Steer, Research Director Aquatic and Livestock Sciences at SARDI's West Beach facility this morning, along with RecFish SA Executive Officer Asher Dezsery, to take a look at the baby snapper that will soon be swimming the waters of the Upper Spencer Gulf as part of our government's efforts to have a sustainable snapper fishery once again.

I am pleased that RecFish SA are taking an active role in the release next week on behalf of the recreational fishing community. They will be assisting in the fish loading at SARDI West Beach into what SARDI called the 'fish transporter' that can control temperature and oxygen levels while en route which, in itself, is a very impressive piece of equipment, and they will also be assisting with the release near Port Pirie.

The broodstock for this batch of fingerlings was collected from the Spencer Gulf and have been conditioned in controlled environments for spawning and rearing more snapper, outside of their natural spawning season, to release another batch into the Spencer Gulf later in the year, before the program moves to breeding snapper from and for the Gulf St Vincent next year. After seeing the broodstock this morning in their large tank, they are absolutely striking fish, the kind and size that we hope to see many more grow to in their native environment in years to come.

Interestingly, the fingerlings' ear bones have been marked with purple dye, so that if sampled in years to come they can be discriminated from wild fish. The juvenile snapper will be transported to their new home next week in batches of up to 30,000. They will be released into muddy seagrass areas that provide a natural habitat for young fish and that gives them the best chance to develop into the adult snapper that the fishery needs in order to rebound over time.

I would like to thank the dedicated team at SARDI, who have developed the snapper restocking program, and as they continue to refine it to get as many snapper back safely into the water as possible. It is another example of the expertise and scientific capability that our state is very fortunate to have at SARDI West Beach.