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09-02-2006, 05:45 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
09/02/2006
NEW FISHERIES LICENSING AND FEE STRUCTURE
The State Government has approved a package of reforms to Queensland's fisheries licensing and fee arrangements, Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said today.
The package includes a greatly simplified fisheries licensing regime and changes to management arrangements that will remove unnecessary restrictions, give commercial fishers much greater flexibility in how they run their businesses and lead to greater efficiency for government and industry.
"The changes will not affect recreational fishers, who in line with the Government's commitment, will continue to be able to wet a line without attracting a fee,'' Mr Mulherin said.
The new arrangements, which come into effect on July 1, 2006, have been developed after extensive consultation with industry.
Mr Mulherin said the new fees would be phased in over five years with no net increase in revenue in the first year.
"I commend members of the fishing industry on the way they have engaged with the Government to develop a package of reforms that meets both their needs and those of the Government," Mr Mulherin said.
"New commercial fishing fees will be based on the concept of statutory fishing rights, including provision for compensation where commercial fishing rights are reduced for the benefit of other users.
"The commercial fishing fees will be based on the value of the fishing rights held by each individual fisher. Those with the greatest rights will pay the most.''
"This reflects the difficult economic circumstances currently facing the fishing industry and will give it time to adjust to the new fee levels,'' he said.
The increase in commercial licence fees will be offset by reforms, which include:
·increased business security through removal of annual licence renewal requirements for commercial and charter fishers;
·less demand on industry cash flows through a quarterly (in arrears) fee payment system to replace the annual (up front) system;
·significant reduction in the number of licences needed to fish commercially through the removal of separate tender boat licences;
·greater flexibility in employing fishing crews through the removal of assistant fisher and crew licences;
·increased business flexibility by providing for the transfer of fishery symbols between existing fishing licences;
·removal of minimum quota holding requirements in all quota managed fisheries;
·removal of penalties on effort unit transfers and boat upgrades in the trawl fishery;
·streamlining reporting arrangements and administration of the spanish mackerel and reef line quota fisheries;
·allowing amalgamation and trading of harvest fishery symbols; and
·amalgamation of the two line fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria into a single fishery.
"This is the first stage of implementation of reforms that have been negotiated with the industry,'' Mr Mulherin said.
"The Government is committed to addressing the other issues that have been identified as requiring urgent attention.
"The Fisheries Act will shortly be amended to provide for specific compensation arrangements where commercial fishers lose access for the benefit of other users".
A range of other matters raised during an extensive state-wide consultation process have been referred to the Fisheries Management Advisory Committees for resolution within the next 12 months.
"The changes announced today will provide a significantly enhanced environment for investment in commercial and charter fishing while continuing to ensure the sustainability of Queensland's fisheries resources," Mr Mulherin said
"The Government is committed to ensuring that the transition into the new system is as smooth as possible.
"I have asked the Department to prepare suitable written information for all fisheries users and further meetings with commercial fishers will be held at ports throughout Queensland prior to July, 2006 to explain the details of the new arrangements."
In addition to changes to the commercial and charter fishing sectors, in the recreational sector, the Private Pleasure Vessel levy will be increased from $12.70 to $15 a year and Storm King Dam, at the request of the local stocking group, has been included on the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme.
Media: David Potter 32396530
NB: The Minister will be available to comment on the release between 2.30 and 3pm today (February 9).
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
09/02/2006
NEW FISHERIES LICENSING AND FEE STRUCTURE
The State Government has approved a package of reforms to Queensland's fisheries licensing and fee arrangements, Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said today.
The package includes a greatly simplified fisheries licensing regime and changes to management arrangements that will remove unnecessary restrictions, give commercial fishers much greater flexibility in how they run their businesses and lead to greater efficiency for government and industry.
"The changes will not affect recreational fishers, who in line with the Government's commitment, will continue to be able to wet a line without attracting a fee,'' Mr Mulherin said.
The new arrangements, which come into effect on July 1, 2006, have been developed after extensive consultation with industry.
Mr Mulherin said the new fees would be phased in over five years with no net increase in revenue in the first year.
"I commend members of the fishing industry on the way they have engaged with the Government to develop a package of reforms that meets both their needs and those of the Government," Mr Mulherin said.
"New commercial fishing fees will be based on the concept of statutory fishing rights, including provision for compensation where commercial fishing rights are reduced for the benefit of other users.
"The commercial fishing fees will be based on the value of the fishing rights held by each individual fisher. Those with the greatest rights will pay the most.''
"This reflects the difficult economic circumstances currently facing the fishing industry and will give it time to adjust to the new fee levels,'' he said.
The increase in commercial licence fees will be offset by reforms, which include:
·increased business security through removal of annual licence renewal requirements for commercial and charter fishers;
·less demand on industry cash flows through a quarterly (in arrears) fee payment system to replace the annual (up front) system;
·significant reduction in the number of licences needed to fish commercially through the removal of separate tender boat licences;
·greater flexibility in employing fishing crews through the removal of assistant fisher and crew licences;
·increased business flexibility by providing for the transfer of fishery symbols between existing fishing licences;
·removal of minimum quota holding requirements in all quota managed fisheries;
·removal of penalties on effort unit transfers and boat upgrades in the trawl fishery;
·streamlining reporting arrangements and administration of the spanish mackerel and reef line quota fisheries;
·allowing amalgamation and trading of harvest fishery symbols; and
·amalgamation of the two line fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria into a single fishery.
"This is the first stage of implementation of reforms that have been negotiated with the industry,'' Mr Mulherin said.
"The Government is committed to addressing the other issues that have been identified as requiring urgent attention.
"The Fisheries Act will shortly be amended to provide for specific compensation arrangements where commercial fishers lose access for the benefit of other users".
A range of other matters raised during an extensive state-wide consultation process have been referred to the Fisheries Management Advisory Committees for resolution within the next 12 months.
"The changes announced today will provide a significantly enhanced environment for investment in commercial and charter fishing while continuing to ensure the sustainability of Queensland's fisheries resources," Mr Mulherin said
"The Government is committed to ensuring that the transition into the new system is as smooth as possible.
"I have asked the Department to prepare suitable written information for all fisheries users and further meetings with commercial fishers will be held at ports throughout Queensland prior to July, 2006 to explain the details of the new arrangements."
In addition to changes to the commercial and charter fishing sectors, in the recreational sector, the Private Pleasure Vessel levy will be increased from $12.70 to $15 a year and Storm King Dam, at the request of the local stocking group, has been included on the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme.
Media: David Potter 32396530
NB: The Minister will be available to comment on the release between 2.30 and 3pm today (February 9).