30 May 2005
Hon. Judy Jackson MHA,
Minister for Environment and Planning,
GPO Box 825,
Hobart, Tas.
7001
Dear Minister,
Marine Protected Areas – Structural Adjustment Process
We are very concerned at the apparent lack of action by the State Government in establishing a process for structural adjustment assistance following the recent declaration of two Marine Protected Areas. As you are aware the development of MPAs in State waters may result in serious economic impacts on commercial fishermen and coastal communities with all sorts of political consequences.
We are aware for instance that at least one commercial fisherman lodged a claim for adjustment assistance in late March 2005 as a result of being locked out of Port Davey and over two months later this issue apparently remains unresolved.
The Tasmanian Marine Protected Areas Strategy developed after lengthy consultation with a wide range of stakeholders records the Government’s position on Displacement as follows – "The Tasmanian Government recognises the importance of displacement issues. To address these issues, the Tasmanian Government has agreed to establish a process for providing special adjustment payments on a case by case basis (ex poste) to certain individuals directly affected by a Marine Protected Area."
Despite this commitment we are not aware of any public guidelines on how displacement claims will be assessed or the basis on which payments would be made to either individuals or the commercial fishing industry as a whole. Without this process in place our industry members may have to experience a long arduous and uncertain course of action which would even further penalise those already impacted.
The Commonwealth Government by comparison at least has the GBRMP Structural Adjustment Package and Minister Ian Macdonald’s MPA Displaced Fishing Effort policy statement as a precedent. As the State MPA policy agenda is within your responsibility we now seek your urgent support to action a transparent process on which to consider current and future displacement claims. We believe that such a process should be given a legislative basis with clear statements on criterias and eligibility and how compensation payments will be calculated and applied.
Additionally the proposition that any adjustment assistance be addressed after the declaration of an MPA is grossly inappropriate in that it obviously prevents a proper cost/benefit analysis being included in any reference for the creation of an MPA. Quite clearly a lack of a defined process for the calculation and distribution of compensation payments and especially after an MPA declaration is unacceptable to our industry. We therefore seek your earliest action on the outstanding structural adjustment claim/s and for the establishment of MPA structural adjustment legislation.
If we can assist in any way please advise.
Yours sincerely,
R.K. LISTER
Chief Executive
cc : Minister Steven Kons
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