Fishing Compliance Activity

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister please inform the chamber about the statewide fisheries blitz over the Easter period?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for his question. The Easter period saw some great weather and fishing conditions around the state, and it was fantastic to see many thousands of South Australians enjoying the break, fishing with friends and family, right along our coast, rivers and waterways.

It was also an opportune time for our dedicated fisheries officers to be out and about, with a statewide sweep conducted over the four-day Easter period. The purpose of these operations is primarily educative as well as being a deterrent for those who choose not to comply with our state's important rules and regulations, which are there to protect fish stocks and which have a key role in the sustainability of our fisheries.

The statewide sweep by fisheries officers resulted in 2,500 fishers having their catches checked over the four-day Easter period. Of these 2,500 checks, only 30 resulted in on-the-spot fines and 26 resulted in cautions being issued. These numbers equate to about 98 per cent of catches being compliant, with only 2 per cent found to be doing the wrong thing, and with most offences relating to the take of undersized fish.

While only 2 per cent were found to be doing the wrong thing it was a very expensive day out for some, with one of the groups caught taking undersized fish receiving fines amounting to $3,000. While fisheries officers are dedicated to educating and helping the fishing public, it is important to remember the key role they play in the sustainability of our fisheries by enforcing the rules and regulations and, where required—but only where required—issuing penalties to those found to be doing the wrong thing.

The vast majority of South Australians deserve credit for the way they conduct themselves while fishing, and the vast majority are passionate about ensuring the sustainability of our fish stocks so they and their families can enjoy this fantastic activity, as they have done, for many more generations to come. That is just one reason so many fishers are pleased to see our fisheries officers on the beach, doing their job to deter illegal fishing activity and apprehend those responsible.

Those who do choose to undertake illegal fishing activity run the risk of being caught, and the significant penalties that can come with it need to be remembered, as a handful of fishers have found out during this sweep. As I often do, I also take this opportunity to acknowledge our Fishcare volunteers, who do a great job supporting our fisheries officers by providing information and help to the fishing public on our state's jetties and at key fishing locations, as they once again did over Easter.

I thank our fisheries officers, Fishcare volunteers and all those who are found to be doing the right thing as part of this statewide initiative. We can all play our part in healthy fish stocks by respecting the rules and regulations that are in place to assist with having sustainable outcomes.