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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-20 Daily Xml
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MARINE PARKS

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries questions about commonwealth marine parks.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: I have recently been made aware that one of the state's valuable fisheries–king crabs off Kangaroo Island–will be directly affected by the proposed commonwealth marine parks. Fishers involved are seriously concerned that their harvest strategies will have to be adjusted and that the proposed parks will have a grave impact on their business. My questions are:

1. Has PIRSA been involved at all in the consultation process?

2. What has the minister done to advocate for South Australian fishers in relation to this commonwealth marine parks grab?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. The Australian government's marine reserves in the waters of south-western Australia, including the waters off South Australia between Kangaroo Island and the Western Australian border, came into effect on 17 November 2012. There will be no on-the-water changes for users in the commonwealth marine reserves until July 2014, I am advised, when regulations will apply. This timing aligns with the implementation of South Australia's marine parks, within which fishing restrictions and sanctuary zones will take effect on 1 October 2014.

The South Australian and commonwealth governments collaborated effectively during the design of the marine parks and marine reserves. Both jurisdictions considered the opportunities for enhanced conservation outcomes and the need to minimise the impact on users. This collaboration is evident in the protection provided by both jurisdictions off western and southern Kangaroo Island, Pearson Island and the head of the Great Australian Bight. Continued collaboration will be sought during the management of the displaced commercial fishing effort by both governments.

The South Australian government is seeking to proactively manage displaced commercial fishing effort by undertaking a voluntary process to acquire the required effort, and during a similar time frame the commonwealth government will roll out their Fisheries Adjustment Assistance Package, I am advised. The impact of the commonwealth marine reserves on South Australian fisheries has not been finalised. Earlier estimates suggested minor impacts on the northern zone rock lobster fishery and marine scale fishery; however, these estimates are likely to be recalculated in the near future, so I am advised.

If the commonwealth government seeks to reduce catch effort from these fisheries and the timing is appropriate, the two governments will work together to ensure the simplest process possible for potential applicants. PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture is leading the development and administration of the SA marine parks commercial fishing catch effort reduction program on behalf of the whole of the South Australian government. The catch effort reduction program will seek to reduce effort using voluntary market-based means. Other components of the commonwealth Fisheries Adjustment Assistance Package not related to the acquisition of displaced commercial effort will be managed by the commonwealth.

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