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Fishing Today 17/3 June/July 2004
TFIC News
By Bob Lister
New tough stance on seafood labelling
As a result of decisions taken at a recent Primary Industries Ministerial Council meeting seafood outlets that fail to correctly label imported products will be appropriately punished. The Australian Fisheries Minister Senator Ian Macdonald has asked all State Health Ministers to ramp up surveillance and enforcement to ensure that State laws are being obeyed.
Many of the world’s fisheries are not as sustainable or as environmentally responsible as Australian fisheries and consumers should be made aware of where seafood is coming from and what they are paying for. Seafood outlets that do not disclose if a product is imported are effectively cheating hard working local fishermen who produce a far cleaner and greener product, although it should be acknowledged that many local retailers do correctly label their imported product.
This Federal directive has already been implemented in Tasmania with the State Food Officer at the Department of Health and Human Services recently contacting local seafood distributors and reminding them of the need for correct labelling. AQIS is also routinely checking labelling of imported products to ensure compliance prior to entry into Australia. As an example it is important that local consumers can differentiate between imported scallops and genuine new season Tasmanian scallops and can make a decision to purchase based on this knowledge and difference in price etc.
In this case local seafood distributors have also recently been advised to ensure that advertisements for imported scallops are truthful and comply with the Fair Trading legislation. If imported products are mistaken as local Tasmanian seafood, locals and tourists could be purchasing what is often an inferior product in the belief that it was caught sustainably in our local waters.
For people involved in the local seafood industry we see this new clamp down as appropriate and long overdue. If you observe incorrect labelling of seafood I suggest you take the initiative and contact the State Food Officer in Hobart on (03) 6222 7705.
New safety equipment requirements for commercial vessels
All relevant State Ministers have recently approved the National Standard for Commercial Vessels Part C7A which deals with safety equipment to be carried on commercial vessels. This will replace the current requirements in Section 10 of the USL Code.
The National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC) currently has a policy that they will adopt the parts of the NSCV once they have been endorsed by Ministers and model clauses have now been prepared by the Parliamentary Counsels’ Committee - this is a Ministerial Committee reporting to State and Commonwealth Attorneys General.
MAST has begun discussions with TFIC concerning the implementation of NSCV Part C7A, and particularly the period of transition for commercial fishing vessel dinghies and coastal liferafts. MAST will amend the Marine and Safety (Vessel Safety Standards) By-laws 2000 to implement Section C7A and will continue to allow vessel operators to use existing safety equipment by a written exemption from MAST after 1 October 2004.
For the new requirements that an EPIRB must be carried in a liferaft as well as onboard a vessel the new standard will apply from the next liferaft survey after 1 October 2004. There are a number of changes to equipment that will result from the adoption of Part C7A as the new standard for safety equipment. These are detailed below -
Dinghies
There are a number of new requirements for dinghies.
- dinghies shall be marked with the parent vessel identification
- they must be stowed ready for immediate deployment
- there must be means to launch the dinghy with its full complement of equipment plus 2 persons
- it must be painted a highly visible colour
- it should be fitted with grab lines, and
- it must have sufficient buoyancy for level flotation when swamped.
Dinghies are commonly used on Class 3C fishing vessels in place of liferafts. Consideration needs to be given on how to phase in these requirements for existing fishing vessels.
Coastal Liferafts
The USL standard for a coastal liferaft will be replaced by the International Sailing Federation’s Special Regulations for Yachtsmen’s Inflatable Liferafts. Liferafts will be required to have a hydrostatic release fitted so that if the vessel sinks the liferaft will automatically be released. This was a recommendation of the coronial inquest into the Margaret J. An exemption could apply if the liferaft can float free from a cradle should the vessel sink.
Liferafts are required to carry an EPIRB and should also be fitted with a hydrostatic release. This was a further recommendation of the coronial inquest into the Margaret J sinking. Service intervals for liferafts would increase to that allowed by manufacturers. Currently a liferaft must be serviced every 12 months but some manufacturers now make liferafts with service intervals up to 30 months.
Open reversible liferafts may replace coastal liferafts where the safety of the crew and passengers would not be adversely affected. This would only apply to vessels operating in sheltered waters.
EPIRBs
EPIRBS would be required on all vessels operating in Class B and C waters. Currently EPIRBs are only necessary on Class B vessels under the Code and this requirement is already in place for Tasmanian vessels.
EPIRBs would need to be included in the liferaft (if carried) as well as on the vessel.
Flares
The requirements for flares would be increased for Class B vessels under 25 metres to 6 rockets from 3, to 4 red hand held from 2 and to two orange from 1. Currently Class B vessels that are over 25 metres in length are required to carry the additional flares. An extended life for flares may apply based on manufacturers recommendations.
Torch
A torch is to be carried by every crew member on a vessel. In Tasmania the current requirement is that two torches must be carried on every vessel with one torch for each crew member on Class 1 vessels.
Lifejackets
The standard for a coastal lifejacket will be either EN396 or Marine Orders Part 25 with some additions for lifejacket lights and marking. This means that inflatable jackets manufactured to the EN396 or Marine Orders Part 25 standard will be acceptable as coastal lifejackets.
Medical kit
Medical equipment scales have been substantially changed eliminating inappropriate and out of date medicines. The new scales are consistent with the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide.
Industry support
In all cases MAST intends to provide an administrative exemption to allow a reasonable and practical period for compliance with the new by-laws. Whilst some changes such as the painting of dinghies and the fitting of grab lines appear onerous there are sound safety reason and benefits for such new measures so we ask that fishermen embrace the new standards and comply as soon as possible.
Further advice will follow direct from MAST.
Landing of catch from foreign fishing vessels
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recently sought submissions on a Review of Australia’s Arrangements for Landing of Catch from Foreign Fishing Vessels.
In our TFIC submission we voiced our concern about many aspects of increasing foreign vessel landings including -
- increased landings of catch from foreign fishing vessels could increase competition for domestic fishermen,
- cost advantages for foreign fishing fleets may undermine competitiveness of the domestic fishing industry particularly as Australian fleets in many instances face stricter conservation, fisheries management and labour standards, and
- allowing landing of catch from foreign vessels may encourage additional fishing on the high seas adjacent to the AFZ, put increase pressure on trans-boundary fish stocks and reduce the level of stocks available to domestic fishers.
We supported the current closed port arrangement with exemptions granted as may be justified under Section 103 (1C) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991.
If however foreign vessels are to be allowed under exemption to access Australian ports then they should be able to confirm they have been fishing for species and in areas under sustainable fisheries management, that introduced marine pests are carefully considered in the exemption approval and that the vessels move direct from outside Australian waters to the approved port under appropriate protocols.
First Commonwealth marine plan launched
Australia’s first regional marine plan was officially launched by the Federal Minister for Environment and Heritage Dr David Kemp in Melbourne on 21 May 2004. The South East Regional Marine Plan is the first to be developed and declared under Australia’s Oceans Policy.
The Plan covers an area of over two million square kilometres of ocean in SE Australia including all Commonwealth waters adjacent to Tasmania. Whilst the Plan contains more than 90 actions designed to prevent environmental problems and to stimulate sustainable development the main issues of interest to our industry is the development of a system of marine protected areas.
Boundary options for proposed MPAs in the Murray (S.A.) and Zeehan (off NW Tasmania) areas covering more than 40,000 square kilometres have been identified and included in the Plan. Issues such as what activities are permitted in multiple use MPAs, confirmation of MPA boundaries and the criteria and level of displacement assistance are still being progressed. There are nine other Broad Areas of Interest identified in the SE region where MPAs are proposed in some form.
The commercial fishing industry through ASIC and State peak bodies such as TFIC along with valuable input from local commodity groups has been participating in the process of identifying MPA options for the last 18 months so this official release of the SERMP is not really new news to us.
What is of concern however is the mixed media response to what the Federal government believes is a politically good news story. Conservation and scientific groups have generally been critical of the process and the outcomes which they view as not being strong enough. Unfortunately a high level of uncertainty will remain in the commercial fishing industry until more specific details are debated and decided although we have been very appreciative of the stakeholder involvement in the process so far.
What may happen in the future is still unclear but almost certainly our industry is likely to suffer penalties with reduced fishing areas across the whole region of SE Australia as a result of this push for regional marine plans.
Future leaders should apply today
Applications are still being accepted for the TFIC Leadership Development Program.
The program aims to assist in developing leadership qualities in men and women and to encourage these people to take on roles representing their industry’s interests. This program is designed to be non-threatening, paced to suit the demands of a busy working life, be flexible around work and family needs and demands, be low cost, and importantly be useful and valuable for the participants.
It is anticipated that each TFIC Leadership Development Program will provide 8-10 successful applicants with an opportunity to:
- develop and improve the necessary skills for industry leadership;
- provide the confidence to make a contribution to the industry in a wider role;
- encourage participation in industry organisations, and
- drive their industry forward to have a healthy future.
The program is open to Tasmanian residents who can demonstrate:
- a commitment to the Tasmanian commercial seafood industry;
- an interest in taking on wider roles in the industry, and industry representational roles, and
- a belief in the future of the Tasmanian commercial seafood industry.
Application forms are available from TFIC by telephone on 03 6224 2332.
TFIC Board deliberations
TFIC Board meetings were held in both April and May due to the volume of issues that needed consideration by your Directors.
Matters discussed on behalf of our members included:
- the TFIC Leadership Development Program,
- proposed Strategic Plan questionnaire,
- the review of Fishing Today,
- TasFRAB nominations,
- ASIC membership,
- the South East Regional Marine Plan,
- MPAs in Tasmanian waters,
- the TFIC Budget for 2004,
- funding of DPIWE and specifically Marine Resources Division,
- quarantine issues,
- the impact of floods on oyster farmers in NE Tasmania,
- the National Diving Standard,
- the new ROPES book published by NMSC and supported by MAST,
- the new scallop season,
- radio surveys and MAST issues,
- the Deepwater Jetty at Triabunna,
- Hobart Ports Corporation and vessel charges for the next five years,
- the satellite phone subsidy scheme,
- EMS project officer,
- slipway management,
- sustainable water development,
- seafood standards,
- the Scalefish Management Plan
- ...and a whole lot more.
Our guests at the April meeting were Minister Steven Kons and his advisors Gary Hill and Matt Tidswell.
The 18th TFIC Annual General Meeting was held at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in Sandy Bay on 26 April 2004. Copies of our Annual Report for 2003 are available to members by contacting the TFIC offices.