tfic_news_02.03.htm  

We have put a lot of energy into this issue in the past and have commented on it regularly in Fishing Today especially with good news stories such as when TFIC members have taken the initiative to return other people’s rubbish to the shore as described elsewhere on this website.

The previous issue of this magazine included an article by high school teacher and marine educator Karen Wilson about the launch of a marine debris monitoring program at Rosetta High School. This program has now been embraced by a number of schools in Tasmania and will be an effective tool for raising community awareness about the impacts of dumping rubbish at sea.

We are all well aware that this issue is something that the commercial fishing industry often automatically gets the blame for despite there being many other sources of marine wastes. However it is equally obvious that there are sometimes contributory factors from the industry when rubbish publicly brought ashore includes discarded fishing gear.

Tasmania boasts 38 designated landing points dotted around our coastline but unfortunately not all of these locations have adequate facilities for rubbish collection or disposal. Many access points vital to the industry have no infrastructure or waste disposal facilities of any nature despite the economic returns to the communities that these access points generate.

In this issue of Fishing Today we have included comment by Karen Wilson and a questionnaire that will capitalise on the marine debris monitoring program in our schools. It is designed to provide data on what marine rubbish is brought home, what is found in Tasmanian waters and what facilities there are at the various landing points.

I urge TFIC members to take a few minutes to read the insert memo to members and to fill out the questionnaire, returning it to the address shown. Good input of information from the industry will assist us at TFIC to be proactive as we continue to lobby for improved rubbish disposal facilities around the coast of Tasmania.

Progress with the proposed Seafood Safety Standards
The Federal regulators of the new proposed national seafood safety standard for primary producers and processors (FSANZ) have released an issues paper that asks for industry and state regulator input and comment. The responses will be presented to the Seafood Standards Development Committee (SSDC) for consideration.

Ralph Mitchell is working steadily with this issue and has made good progress with a TFIC submission that both questions the scope and practicality of the proposed standard as well as offering some possible solutions to the questions.

It is worth bearing in mind that once this standard is established it will become both mandatory and enforceable. Strong industry input is vital at this formulation stage to ensure that we grasp the opportunity to assist in the overall development of the standard, rather than having to take whatever we are given once it is in place. Both Ralph, and Colin Dyke (who is on the SSDC) have been involved in this work on a national level for some time.

One of the issues that concerns us as an industry is the potential for an opportunistic 'cash grab' by regulators. The TFIC submission has us on record as stating that this is neither the time nor place for any unnecessary opportunistic increases in costs to the industry.

This 'cash grab' concept is not without precedent in the primary production sector. A recent (January 2003) dairy industry food regulation scheme in Queensland has resulted in a premature and almost double increase in safety accreditation and audit fees by Safe Food Queensland. News reports said that farmers were outraged and 'violently opposed' to the increases.

Closer to home, Victorian authorities have managed to justify a $200 licence fee for small wildcatch fishing businesses with a landed catch value of less than $40,000 per annum for "food safety purposes".

This is an issue that TFIC is taking very seriously as any added or unnecessary impost on industry erodes away the economic returns to fishermen and the community. We will be watching out for this possible eventuality and will cover other food safety concerns addressed in the submission in subsequent issues of FishingToday.

The State Government’s recent announcement of its intent to set up a formal food safety group to collaboratively manage regulation of the primary food production chain is very relevant to this issue.

The main objective of the proposed interagency group is the production of safe food, including seafood, and the maintenance of public health and safety which places even more importance on TFIC’s active involvement in these wide ranging issues.

West Coast Native Title claim causing concern
A Native Title claim group has asked the Federal Court to recognise their traditional rights and interests at Sundown Point in the north west of Tasmania south of Arthur River.

The claim lodged on behalf of the Manegin aboriginal people covers an area of 133 hectares from low water mark and includes the Sundown Creek estuary area and part of Arthur Beach. Also included in the claim is the access road north from Nelson Bay.

Commercial fishermen have used this area over a long period of time to beach seine and recover storm strewn fishing gear from the beaches and rocky outcrops. The area could also be used for future search and rescue operations affecting industry members.

On that basis TFIC has notified the Federal Court that we want to become a party to the application in order that our members’ interests can be taken into account in the progress of the native title claim.

We encourage all members who have a historic interest in this area to also apply to become a party to the claim. Applications must be made on or before 28 April 2003 and all information is available from myself at TFIC. I have already spoken to most west coast fishermen we believe may be adversely affected.

Although the Native Title Registrar has not formally accepted the claim for registration it may still proceed to mediation in the National Native Title Tribunal and/or by determination in the Federal Court.

Significantly the Tasmanian Government has indicated its opposition to the claim. It has legal advice that such a claim would be unlikely to succeed due to a requirement that applicants must prove continuing connection to the land.

Premier Jim Bacon has previously favoured the transfer of Sundown Point to the Aboriginal community by negotiation rather than through the Native Title process.

One way or another fishermen historical interests need to be recognised and protected and being a party to the Native Title application is the first step in a long process.

Leadership a priority for the future
The second "Advance in" National Leadership Development Program for the Australian Seafood Industry will commence in March 2003.

The program, which is supported by FRDC, is currently seeking nominations from members of the seafood industry who are interested in making a difference. The program is seen as an investment in the industry’s future and its leaders.

Graduates would be well equipped with improved skills, knowledge and contacts to operate effectively at an enterprise, organisation and industry level.

The program is conducted over a six month period and costs $500 for registration plus GST and the participants cover the cost of travel and accommodation which can be subsidised by up to 75% under the FarmBi$ program.

The first sessions of each program are from 18-20 March in Brisbane, 11-12 June in Sydney and 10-11 September in Canberra.

If you wish to apply I have all the details or contact the Training Manager Cheryl Phillips on 03 5825 1233.

Successful scallop processing requires co-ordination
All present indicators point to an excellent State scallop fishery later this year and for the next few years particularly as DPIWE propose implementation of new management arrangements to control the areas for fishing and the overall catch.

Subject to a final on-site scallop survey at the end of March the 2003 season should start in early June mainly to the east of Flinders Island and we can expect an approximate 4,000 tonne fishery this year.

However based on past experience the major hurdle to success will not be the quality or quantity of the resource or the catching sector but rather the available processing capacity.

As we have not had a State scallop fishery since 1999 there are few experienced splitters available in Tasmania so local processors will need a slow start to the season to enable them to gear up to effectively handle the product.

Licensed fishermen should bear this in mind before they head for sea.

I strongly recommend that all fishermen who intend to participate in the scallop fishery negotiate with and have a clear understanding with the processor of their choice to co-ordinate the timing and quantity of landings before they enter the fishery.

It really is common sense but to maximise the value of the fishery we need to avoid processing problems that have occurred in previous scallop fisheries.

There are 99 State scallop licences and approximately 10,700 quota units available.

Southport Boat Ramp upgrade
Major upgrading works valued at $230,000 are scheduled to begin at the Southport boat ramp on Monday 3 March 2003.

The contractor Hazell Bros. will be constructing two new ramps with a new walkway between the ramps and a new and larger car park will also be built to cater for 25 cars and boat trailers.

Depending on the weather construction should take between four to six weeks with the new facility to hopefully be fully operational by Easter.

Importantly the construction schedule requires that the ramp will be closed for up to two weeks during the upgrading.

If TFIC members intend to use the ramp at any time during the construction period you should contact Jim Caulfield at MAST on 03 6233 8853 or 0419 120 209 before venturing down to Southport.

TFIC Board considerations
The latest TFIC Board meeting had your Directors considering a large number of issues including concern about proposed new MPAs in State and Commonwealth waters plus the proposals being developed by the National Oceans Office as part of the South East Regional Marine Plan – all up 12 currently live MPA proposals.

Directors also discussed our representations to the State Budget Committee of Cabinet, the National Standard for Commercial Vessels, VMS monitoring, increasing MAST and port charges, slipway management, CDMA and satellite phone communications, trawl interactions with other fisheries, the National Resource Management Council, recreational fishing, TSQAP, TFIC elections and seafood promotions and a whole lot more.

Our guests were David Chaffey re NMSC and Minister Bryan Green with his advisor John Dowling.