Fisheries Management

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:16): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the importance of fisheries management and the achievements of PIRSA staff in this area?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in fisheries matters. Our state is a leader in fisheries management, with a focus on long-term sustainability, and that is balanced with fair and equitable access that takes into account a huge range of variables, with so many species spread across such vast waters, and also takes into account the needs of different fishing sectors, with the overall aim of both enjoying and preserving our precious marine resources, both now and for generations to come.

In no small part our state's leadership in fisheries management is due to the dedicated PIRSA staff, stakeholders and industry leaders, who work together closely to enable strong, vibrant and sustainable commercial charter and recreational fishing sectors. By encouraging new and talented people into the field, and encouraging them to take opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge, my department, as well as the state's fishing sectors, will be well served for many years to come.

One of the great things about my job is highlighting the many achievements of our hardworking and talented public sector staff, and it is for that reason that I am pleased to highlight today the achievement of PIRSA fisheries management officer, Elisha Lovell, who recently won an FRDC sponsorship to take part in a five-day fisheries management course at the University of Wollongong.

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) sponsored places in the program are aimed at those who are new to their careers in fisheries management, and with just four spots on offer and 200 applications from across the country it is a sought-after development opportunity that Elisha did exceedingly well to secure.

Some of the key learnings covered as part of the course included an overview of fisheries management in the context of its challenges around the world, governance and policy frameworks at the national and international level, harvest strategies and reference points, and how it relates to sustainable fisheries, ecosystem-based fisheries management that considers fish habitats and the marine environment, economic valuation of commercial fisheries, markets and the social aspect of management decisions, and much more.

While the learnings from the course are important, it was also a great opportunity for Elisha to network with her counterparts from around the country. It was clearly a valuable course that will further Elisha's skills and knowledge, which I am sure she will bring back to PIRSA as part of her role in our fantastic fisheries management team.

I think it is also important to note that these courses run by the University of Wollongong and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources have not only helped fisheries management experts in our state and our country but have also taught best practice and the most up-to-date information to many fisheries management operators around the world, importantly including a recent course for Pacific Islander fisheries managers and experts.

This further highlights the important worldwide role Australian and South Australian fisheries play as an example of some of the world's best practice that others seek to learn from. I congratulate Elisha and all those involved in this important program.