World Fisheries Day

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister please update the chamber on the importance of World Fisheries Day, which was held on 21 November?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for his question. On Tuesday 21 November 2023, we celebrated World Fisheries Day, a great opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate our world-class fisheries management in South Australia and a chance to reflect on the state of fisheries right around the world, which is so critical to worldwide food security.

World Fisheries Day has been celebrated since 1997 and focuses on the importance of sustainable fisheries and ensuring that our oceans, rivers and lakes are enjoyed sustainably for future generations to come. Twenty-five per cent of the world's dietary protein is provided by fish, and around 200 million people globally are directly or indirectly employed in the fishing sectors.

Last year, Australia's thriving fisheries and aquaculture sectors had a gross value of production of approximately $3.6 billion, exported $1.4 billion worth of seafood and employed more than 14,000 people. More specifically, in 2021-22, South Australia had a combined commercial fishing gross value of production of approximately $207 million and employed 3,554 full-time employees across the state, with 1,308 full-time employees in regional jobs in fishing and supply chain activities. The total seafood exported was $485 million across the fisheries and aquaculture sectors combined.

As Australians, we are fortunate to have an abundance of choice and a healthy supply of sustainable seafood. However, our fisheries neither exist in isolation nor are they immune to the challenges facing the world's fisheries. A changing climate, fish stock sustainability, marine debris and plastics, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing are some of the challenges that face governments, scientists, researchers and the fishing industry around the world.

PIRSA is dedicated to the sustainable management of South Australian aquatic resources, and we achieve this through a range of measures that involve the community and government working together, such as Fishcare volunteers and fisheries officers and compliance teams, strong relationships with the commercial sector to co-manage resources, and a world-class science and research program at SARDI that provides the information to make informed decisions.

As I mentioned, our fisheries don't operate in isolation, and we still have challenges that require decisive action to ensure sustainability. An obvious example is our state's snapper fishery, where we have had to extend the closure and implement a range of measures aimed at making this iconic fishery sustainable once again. Our state's legislative framework concerning fisheries allows for timely recognition and action where required to protect and preserve fish stocks and species.

As we head into the busy holiday period, not only will more people be heading out to fish, but many more will enjoy the incredible produce supplied by our commercial fishers. It is therefore timely that on days such as World Fisheries Day we reflect on just how fortunate we are as a state and as a nation to have access to our mostly sustainable and well-managed ocean resources. This doesn't happen by chance, and our government will continue to ensure that our fisheries are amongst the best managed in the world.