Queensland fisheries quota reform causing chaos

The Queensland Govemment’s changes to the state’s fisheries regulations is causing angst up and down the coast, with the changes threatening the livelihoods of numerous family-owned commercial fishers.

LNP Shadow Minister for Fisheries Tony Perrett called for a halt to the regulation changes after, “it became clear Labor was no longer listening to industry.”

“Under the proposed changes listed in the released discussion paper, quota changes to certain fisheries species will see allowable take reduced to well below business viability for many fishers,” Mr Perrett said.

“Generational fishing businesses and jobs are being whipped away due to Labor arbitrarily squeezing them out, by reducing their quota to unsustainable levels. All these changes are being imposed on fishers without a cent of compensation.”

Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) CEO Eric Perez called for a halt to the regulatory changes.

“Quota changes have not been developed in full consultation with industry and do not represent best practice in terms of fisheries management,” Mr Perez said.

“Industry were asked to provide feedback on how to manage our fisheries and quota was not supported by most commercial fishers. Yet this industry finds itself on the verge of more poorly developed fisheries policy.”