QSIA - Catching Fish for Everyone

Fisheries Management

The QDPI&F are currently reviewing a number of Queensland’s major fisheries. The Combined Fisheries Management RIS includes proposals for the East Coast Trawl Fishery, the Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery, the Crab Fishery and the Finfish (Stout Whiting) Trawl Fishery. The Combined RIS is due to close submissions on the 27th August so hurry if you haven’t already got your in.

There are many important issues confronting the East Coast Trawl Fishery and following the recent Trawl Port visits conducted by the QDPI&F where Queensland fishers from Scarborough through to Cairns had input into the future management of this fishery, the QSIA Trawl Committee recently met to finalise its position before completing its submission on behalf of members. For more information on this submission please contact the Trawl Committee Chair Robin Hansen or the North or South area representatives Mark Millward and Steve Murphy via this office.

Also, the Rocky Reef Finfish Fishery Review is currently under way with a Stakeholder Working Group formed made up of stakeholders from across the various fishery sectors and the community to have a say on the future management of this important fishery.

The QSIA representatives on this Stakeholder Working Group are Michael Gardner, Dave Thompson and Michael Thompson and can be contacted via our office for more information. It is anticipated that a period of public consultation will commence later in the year.

To make a comment or for more information send me a message at: 

Support for trawl fishing industry fast tracked  

An action plan has been developed to fast track support for the Queensland trawl fishing sector. 

 Rising fuel prices and competition from imported seafood is a serious challenge for Queensland fishing families. 

The action plan is aimed at increasing immediate profitability and outlines what has been done to date to assist the sector while also fast tracking some initiatives that will provide a financial benefit to industry. 

These include agreement to fast track possible changes to rules related to by-catch retention and in-possession limits for some species, looking at the use of multiple symbols and access to assistance for the installation of hoppers and more fuel efficiency measures such as sustainable fishing apparatus. 

All measures are to assist fishing families to increase profitability maximise their trips and reduce input costs such as fuel.  We will be working now with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to see these changes through in the immediate future so that fishermen can get back to work and continue to supply Queenslanders with local wild caught seafood. 

At the end of the day marketing of Queensland seafood product to secure a higher price for fishermen remains an important focus for the fishing industry.  As always, in the fishing industry’s favour is the world class product it harvests. Queensland seafood continues to be a premium clean and green product and we need to capitalise on this reputation.

Better promotion of Queensland seafood is imperative if the industry is to achieve greater profitability. Queensland consumers tell us they love Queensland seafood and we need to support industry to continue to supply local caught product.

To make a comment on the access to Queensland seafood send me a message.

The last month at the QSIA has been pretty hectic. Of all the issues that can impact the seafood industry and probably the one issue that we as an industry have the least control over, is the high cost of diesel fuel. Fishermen are really hurting at present and I can’t see the price dropping in the foreseeable future.

However, there is one thing that we can all do to support Queensland fishermen and that is to eat more Queensland seafood. When we eat Queensland seafood we are helping our local fishermen and we are also helping to ensure our way of life continues.

Seafood and Queensland go hand-in-hand. Can you imagine Queensland without a mud crabs or Moreton Bay without bugs or North Queensland without Barramundi? Me neither. So I urge you to do your bit for the fishermen and eat more Queensland seafood.

The next time you are shopping ask for Australian or Queensland seafood. Help our local fishermen continue to provide you with the best seafood in the world.

To make a comment on the high cost of fuel please see below.