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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-11-15 Daily Xml
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Parliamentary Committees

Natural Resources Committee: Sustainable Prawns Fisheries Management

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (17:39): I move:

That the report of the committee on Sustainable Prawns Fisheries Management in South Australia be noted.

The Natural Resources Committee first heard about the matters concerning the Gulf St Vincent prawn fishery in 2014, when it was presented with a publication entitled The Old Man and the Sea: a South Australian Story. The publication was written by prawn fisher, Maurice Corigliano, about the decline of Gulf St Vincent prawn fishery. The committee subsequently heard evidence about the history and status of the fishery from a variety of stakeholders, who took the time to present to the committee during formal hearings.

The committee heard that prawn fishers in Gulf St Vincent were unhappy with the number of boats able to work in the gulf, and believed that a reduction in the number of licences would be the solution to creating a more sustainable fishery. The committee also heard that some Gulf St Vincent prawn fishers wanted the South Australian government to invest in a licence buyback scheme to reduce the number of boats actively fishing for prawns in the gulf.

These prawn fishers also blame the South Australian government for the poor state of the prawn fishery because they said the government was responsible for too many licences being made available initially. To gain a more thorough understanding of this quite complex matter, the committee sought out evidence on South Australia's other two prawn fisheries on the West Coast and in the Spencer Gulf.

Although the committee heard that there were important ecological differences between the two gulfs, they heard that the way in which the Spencer Gulf prawn fisheries and their industry association worked together to manage sustainability in the Spencer Gulf was an internationally recognised model for best practice. It was aspects of this model that PIRSA subsequently adapted for Gulf St Vincent, and that the committee decided should be given a proper chance to work in the gulf.

Although the committee was sympathetic to the plight of prawn fishers in Gulf St Vincent, after careful consideration it considered that a state government funded buyback scheme was not the best option. The committee's conclusion was that it appeared that the model for co-management and management strategies, as implemented by PIRSA, were working effectively to achieve the desired outcome, being a reduction in the number of prawn boats in Gulf St Vincent, but minus the high price tag associated with a buyback. Consequently, members agreed that this new cooperative model should be given an opportunity to continue.

I wish to thank all those who gave their time to assist the committee with this report, and I commend past and present members of the Natural Resources Committee: presiding member the Hon. Steph Key MP, the Hon. Robert Brokenshire MLC, the Hon. Paul Caica MP, the Hon. John Dawkins MLC, Mr John Gee MP, Mr Chris Picton MP, Ms Annabel Digance MP, Mr Peter Treloar MP and former member the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars MLC, for their contributions.

I am confident that all members worked cooperatively on this report. Finally, I thank members of the parliamentary staff for their assistance and I commend the report to the chamber.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (17:43): I rise to support this motion and endorse the remarks of the Hon. Mr Gazzola, who probably knew far more about fishing when he was a teenager than I will ever know. This has been an example of a difficult issue that has been brought to the Natural Resources Committee and one that I think we have dealt with in a very measured manner. There are a lot of issues on which we do not want to give expectations to people that we can change the world. However, we will listen to them and see what we can do in the course of getting people in the agencies to also take note of the issues.

I think the matter highlighted, as the Hon. Mr Gazzola said, the significant differences in many of the various groups of water, if you want to call it that, in South Australia—the significant difference between not only Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf but also those waters on the West Coast, which is basically part of the Great Australian Bight. So, there are significant differences.

Overall, I think the committee was very honest with this group, which is also, no doubt, passionate about the gulf and what they do. As I have learned over my years in this place, most people who have anything to do with fishing are quite passionate. Once again, I endorse the work of the committee, particularly under the leadership of the Hon. Steph Key, and I endorse the report.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. T.J. Stephens.

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