jaybee
12-08-2004, 09:58 PM
Courier Mail News
Stefanie Balogh and Michael Madigan 11aug04
Federal Government recognised lucrative fishing licences as a tangible asset.
The Cabinet decision to recognise the 77 prawning licences to farm the Torres Strait as a property right has sent a wave of reassurance through the fishing industry.
The decision ends years of limbo for the $30 million-a-year Torres Strait prawning industry, and means those in the industry cannot have their licences seized without receiving compensation.
Prawn trawling rights in the Torres Strait were complicated by a 20-year treaty that guaranteed Torres Strait Islanders and Papua New Guinean fishers rights to 20 per cent of the licences held by Australians. The licences were never allocated.
The prawning industry was concerned it would lose licences to these fishers next year, but after fierce lobbying to protect their rights won over federal Cabinet.
The Government said yesterday it would enter negotiations with the Torres Strait Islanders and the Papua New Guinean Government to convince them not to take up their licences.
It is too early to determine what form and how much compensation they would receive for forgoing their 20 per cent stake.
Torres Strait Prawn Entitlement Holders Association president Mark Millward said the Australian trawlers could fish for 13,570 days and the original proposal was to relocate 2750 days under the treaty obligations to the Torres Strait and PNG fishers.
"We said we understand but don't take them off us for nothing and expect us to wear your stuff up," Mr Millward said.
While the prawn industry has won on the reallocation issue, it is still fighting government plans for the sustainability of the industry, which involves one proposal to slash the catch quota by about 40 per cent.
Queensland Seafood Industry Association head John Olsen said the decision was an important reassurance for the entire fishing industry.
Stefanie Balogh and Michael Madigan 11aug04
Federal Government recognised lucrative fishing licences as a tangible asset.
The Cabinet decision to recognise the 77 prawning licences to farm the Torres Strait as a property right has sent a wave of reassurance through the fishing industry.
The decision ends years of limbo for the $30 million-a-year Torres Strait prawning industry, and means those in the industry cannot have their licences seized without receiving compensation.
Prawn trawling rights in the Torres Strait were complicated by a 20-year treaty that guaranteed Torres Strait Islanders and Papua New Guinean fishers rights to 20 per cent of the licences held by Australians. The licences were never allocated.
The prawning industry was concerned it would lose licences to these fishers next year, but after fierce lobbying to protect their rights won over federal Cabinet.
The Government said yesterday it would enter negotiations with the Torres Strait Islanders and the Papua New Guinean Government to convince them not to take up their licences.
It is too early to determine what form and how much compensation they would receive for forgoing their 20 per cent stake.
Torres Strait Prawn Entitlement Holders Association president Mark Millward said the Australian trawlers could fish for 13,570 days and the original proposal was to relocate 2750 days under the treaty obligations to the Torres Strait and PNG fishers.
"We said we understand but don't take them off us for nothing and expect us to wear your stuff up," Mr Millward said.
While the prawn industry has won on the reallocation issue, it is still fighting government plans for the sustainability of the industry, which involves one proposal to slash the catch quota by about 40 per cent.
Queensland Seafood Industry Association head John Olsen said the decision was an important reassurance for the entire fishing industry.