PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture independent cost recovery review

The South Australian Government has undertaken an independent review of the current seafood sectors cost recovery policy model to ensure it is sustainable and appropriate.

The Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development established the Independent Cost Recovery Review Panel, comprising experts with extensive experience in commercial fishing, natural resource economics, and fisheries economics.

Independent Cost Recovery Review Panel

• Brett McCallum has been involved in the commercial fishing industry for over 40 years and has significant experience in board membership, high level corporate leadership at both the national and state level, industry representation, strategic planning and policy development at both industry and government levels and business, financial and economic management.
• Dr Sarah Jennings is a natural resource economist with broad experience in applying sound economic thinking and analysis to inform marine management, and in working in interdisciplinary teams to address complex system-level problems.
• Dr Sean Pascoe has over 35 years of experience in fisheries economics. Prior to joining CSIRO in August 2006, Dr Pascoe was a Professor of Natural Resource Economics and Director of the Centre for the Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources, University of Portsmouth, UK.

Review terms of reference

• Terms of Reference Fisheries - Independent Cost Recovery Review Panel (PDF 81.7 KB)
• Terms of Reference Aquaculture - Independent Cost Recovery Review Panel (PDF 81.2 KB)

Review outcomes and government response

Following a review process, the State Government has embraced the majority of the recommendations presented by the Independent Cost Recovery Review Panel. Out of 33 recommendations, 28 have been fully accepted, with two recommendations partially accepted, two requiring further consideration by industry and one deemed not to be in scope.

Key findings from the panel include:

• Strong overall support and goodwill from stakeholders for the cost recovery concept in the South Australian fisheries and aquaculture sectors along with a desire to improve the current cost recovery system.
• A review of cost recovery models operating in other Australian states and the Northern Territory found no better alternative system that was consistent with South Australian policies.
• Identified areas for improvement including regular benchmarking, a more comprehensive performance framework for cost recovery and an independent review of PIRSA's compliance and research programs.

The Government believes the panel's recommendations relating to the introduction of fisheries and aquaculture self-insurance funds, should be driven, if there is support, by the respective commercial sectors.

The government is not considering the panel's recommendation to introduce a recreational fishing licence.

• Cost Recovery in Commercial Fisheries Sector Final Report 2023 (PDF 1.1 MB)
• Cost Recovery in the Aquaculture Sector Final Report 2023 (PDF 1.0 MB)
• Government response to Independent Cost Recovery Review reports for the South Australian seafood fishery and aquaculture sectors (PDF 3.5 MB)

Continued engagement and feedback

PIRSA will continue discussion and consultation with industry sectors as we implement the panel's recommendations to manage all costs effectively and ensure the sustainability of these vital sectors. Feedback can be provided to PIRSA by emailing either:

• pirsa.fisherieslicensing@sa.gov.au
• pirsa.aquaculture@sa.gov.au