Recreational Rock Lobster Fishing

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:05): My question is also to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Attorney! Can we just listen to the Hon. Mr Hanson, please?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.E. HANSON: Hear, hear, Mr President. Will the minister inform the chamber about the changes to the way recreationally caught rock lobster are marked and identified?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am very pleased that so many on this side of the chamber are so interested in primary industries.

The PRESIDENT: And lobster.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Rock lobster is an iconic and sought-after species which has a passionate following amongst a section of recreational anglers who register their rock lobster pots each year and access this incredible fishery. Marking of recreationally caught rock lobster is incredibly important to differentiate from those that are commercially caught and thereby protects the integrity of the rock lobster that end up for purchase in markets and restaurants across the state and around the world.

The way that current regulations require recreationally caught rock lobster to be marked is by clipping the middle tail fan in half horizontally across the tail and removing it before the lobster is brought ashore or landed. Earlier this year, PIRSA received correspondence from the Kingston South-East Recreational Fishers Association Incorporated raising concerns that the practice of clipping the middle tail fan in half, which has been a requirement for many years, may cause discomfort and blood loss for the rock lobster and may impact on its eating quality.

Previous studies have indicated that cutting the middle tail fan does not cause any pain or physical distress to the lobster as there is no major nervous tissue in the first half of the middle tail fan. The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) indicated there was no data on the blood loss due to a 50 per cent tail fan cut compared to a 20 per cent cut; however, suggested that they thought the difference would be negligible.

RecFish had also raised this issue with PIRSA, and I am pleased that PIRSA has acted on the calls from the association and from RecFish SA to make changes to the way rock lobster can be marked and identified as being recreationally caught. It's important to note that this is not adopting the original suggestion but is actually a third option that has been identified through that important consultation and communication process.

Anglers who catch rock lobster in registered rock lobster pots will now be able to punch a hole in the middle tail fan of not less than 10 millimetres or, alternatively, can clip the tail as they currently do. These changes will be made by ministerial exemption and we will consider permanent changes to the Fisheries Management Act.

In addition, a section 79 declaration has been made which allows for the same tail-marking arrangements to be extended to other rock lobster species, which, I am advised, are becoming more prevalent in our waters. Since coming to government and reinstating RecFish SA as the independent peak body for recreational fishing in line with an election commitment to do so, we have worked closely to deliver a range of outcomes for recreational fishers across the state, most recently announcing a further $200,000 in 2024-25 for RecFish SA to run programs that will increase participation in recreational fishing among women and children.

I am pleased that we have been able to make these sensible changes and, as a resident of regions synonymous with rock lobster, look forward to seeing people enjoying getting out and taking part in the upcoming rock lobster season starting next month.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Do we want to chat or do we want to have question time?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The two from the South-East can go out the back and chat if you want.