Red tape reduction for fishing operations
Cutting red tape is an important part of the Marine Scalefish Fishery reform.
Red tape reduction changes aim to:
- encourage innovation
- improve the profitability of seafood businesses
- create more flexible working conditions.
Red tape reduction measures
An industry Red Tape Reduction Working Group was established to identify opportunities for amendments or removal of regulations, licence conditions and management arrangements to reduce red tape and drive greater efficiencies in fishing operations.
Following review and industry consultation, changes to be implemented are:
- allow licence holders to carry and use multiple gear types they are endorsed to use on a single fishing trip (e.g. handline and net)
- adding a new commercial fishing gear type, a 'lift net'
- allow relief masters on a vessel for 28 individual days rather than 4 x 7-day blocks
- allow licence holders to use longlines without having to attend the lines once these species are managed under a quota system
- remove seasonal closures for southern garfish and snapper (in the South East) once these species are managed under a quota system
- allow West Coast fishers to take 150 razorfish during a three-day period for bait rather than a 50 razorfish per day limit
- the addition of several permitted species to the fishery, including: Conger Eel, Sergeant Baker, Silver Drummer, Weedy Whiting, Knifejaw, Rock and Spider Crab (West of 135 degrees East
- changes to the conditions of Restricted Fish Processor registration to enable Restricted Fish Processors who are also Marine Scalefish Fishery licence holders to sell their catch to any type of business, instead of just restaurants, pubs and clubs.
Amendments to legislation to support these changes have been finalised and commence 1 July 2021.
The government is continuing to work with industry to identify further red tape to be removed.
Red Tape Reduction Working Group
The Red Tape Reduction Working Group was established as part of the Marine Scalefish Fishery reform process.
The working group included:
- independent chair
- industry representatives.
Targeted consultation was undertaken with industry groups and local government bodies on a range of recommendations for red tape reduction that were presented to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development in late 2020.
View Marine Scalefish Fishery Red Tape Reduction Group report – September 2020 ()
Contacts
Sam Stone
PIRSA Fisheries Manager
Phone: (08) 8429 2101
Email: sam.stone@sa.gov.au
Executive Officer
Marine Fishers Association
Phone: 0472 719 623
Email: enquiries@mfasa.org.au
Address: 6-8 Todd Street, Port Adelaide SA 5015