Blue Crab Fishery

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:11): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber on the progress to develop the replacement management plan for South Australia's important blue crab fishery?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for her question. Management plans for South Australia's fisheries developed under the Fisheries Management Act 2007 provide certainty for stakeholders in the fishery by describing the goals and objectives of management of the fishery and strategies in place to meet those objectives.

The current management plan for the South Australian commercial blue crab fishery expires on 30 June this year. A formal review of the existing management plan has been undertaken by the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan Review Committee, established under section 20 of the Fisheries Act to undertake the review. The committee membership includes an independent chair and representatives from the commercial blue crab fishery, the recreational fishing sector, an Aboriginal traditional fisher, SARDI and PIRSA.

Following consideration of a report on the outcomes of that review prepared by the review committee, I approved PIRSA to prepare a replacement management plan, with feedback provided by the established Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan Review Committee. A draft plan has been prepared and the executive director of fisheries and aquaculture, as my delegate, released the draft management plan for public comment.

The draft management plan recommended by the Blue Crab Fishery Management Plan Review Committee includes consideration of the outcomes of a revised ecological sustainable development risk assessment. The draft replacement management plan was released for public consultation in December. All interested parties can have their say on the draft management plan by providing written submissions to PIRSA until 3 March 2024. Details on this process can be found on the PIRSA website.

A public hearing will also be held at 4pm on 6 March 2024 at the PIRSA offices at 2 Hamra Avenue, West Beach, at which interested persons may appear to be heard in relation to the draft management plan and the submissions. The proposed amendments in the draft plan are expected to have a positive impact on fishery stakeholders. As one of our most popular seafood species, both for seafood consumers and recreational fishers, I encourage those who would like to have a say to do so before 3 March.