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Fishing Today – June/July 2005 18/3
TFIC News
by Bob Lister, Chief Executive, TFIC
Industry supports strong seafood labelling standards
A recent change to a Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) discussion paper significantly waters down requirements for country of origin labelling of bulk or unpackaged seafood on the Australian market. Our industry Australia wide is vigorously opposed to this move which will require wholesalers and retailers to only answer consumer questions, if they are asked, on the origin of product. In our TFIC response to FSANZ we have indicated our very strong view that all imported seafood should be clearly labelled with the country of origin at the point of sale and in all point-of-sale and media advertising. This should include both packed and unpacked product and the requirement should become a mandatory national standard.
This was a recommendation agreed at a Primary Industries Ministerial Council meeting in Adelaide on 19 May 2004 aimed at protecting local producers and wholesalers. There are continuing instances where inferior imported seafood product is offered for sale and purchased by the public in the mistaken belief that it is local seafood caught on a sustainable basis. This is particularly so in Tasmania when locals and tourists alike seek to purchase our wonderful local product and inadvertently purchase seafood sourced from overseas which may be of a significantly inferior quality. Correct labelling provides consumers with accurate information on which to make an informed decision and ensures that local seafood producers are not cheated out of sales by dodgy operators. Whilst Tasmanian law under the Food Act 2003 already requires correct labelling of imported seafood products with the country of origin or the words imported prominently displayed at the point of sale the requirement is administered by local government officials who often have many other issues to manage.
Our State Department of Health and Human Services has continually supported national measures aimed at ensuring all imported seafood is correctly labelled and remains safe for human consumption. We also note the Australian Governments decision on 20 October 2004 to establish a toll free hotline for consumers to report retailers not properly labelling seafood. We have therefore urged FSANZ to grasp this opportunity to ensure all seafood product imported into Australia is labelled accordingly along with all associated advertising.
State Budget initiatives welcome
Minister Bryan Green has announced as part of the Tasmanian State Budget that nearly $1 million in new and extra funding will be allocated to upgrade regional maritime infrastructure around Tasmania. This will include $850,000 to upgrade the Deepwater Jetty at Triabunna and to rebuild old sections of the Dover Jetty etc plus $100,000 to continue dredging of the States barways.
Also announced by Minister Steven Kons was a $2.1 million plan over four years to regulate and monitor chemical use in Tasmanian catchments. A chemical usage action plan as part of this program will include an enhanced Tasmanian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program with new pesticide monitoring arrangements.
Also included in the State Budget was a $835,000 upgrade of the DPIWE Mount Pleasant laboratory in Launceston which will improve the State's ability to identify potential threats of pest and disease incursion. All very welcome initiatives with long-term benefits for our industry.
Initial Tasmanian Pulp Mill response
TFIC has been given the opportunity by the Resource Planning and Development Commission to comment on the draft scope guidelines and Integrated Impact Statement for the proposed bleached Kraft Pulp Mill. For your general information our response has been that any waste outfall to the ocean from this project and the subsequent impact on the marine environment is of major concern to our organisation and members. The unique oceanographic features of Bass Strait contain vast quantities of embryonic and juvenile marine organisms which may be seriously impacted and compromised by the proposed ocean outfall and diffuser. Possible lethal and sub lethal effects along with the potential for multiple exposures and pollution plumes will require extensive evaluation as part of this assessment for a future pulp mill.
In South Eastern Australia we have sustainably managed commercial fisheries and an important developing aquaculture sector all of which depend on a clean marine environment and we also promote this aspect as a key component in our seafood product marketing arrangements. We have therefore asked the RPDC in their assessment of this project that major consideration be given to maintaining a pristine marine environment in Bass Strait.
Tasmania’s Real Life Water Rats
If you have seen the TV drama series Water Rats you may think you know what water policing is all about. Well, think again. A new television documentary series entitled Real Life Water Rats will be shown on ABC TV commencing at 8.00 pm on Tuesday 9 August 2005. This very real series features the work of Tasmania’s Marine Police and Search and Rescue officers. Produced by Roar Film in association with the Australian Film Corporation and Screen Tasmania the four part series shows what real water policing involves and the many people associated with this important activity.
The first 30 minute feature covers the high seas drama and rescue of stricken yachts in the last Sydney to Hobart yacht race. The series was produced over a 5 month period and features exciting action with terrific characters set against a backdrop of Tasmania’s most spectacular coastal scenery. The expected national audience is about four million viewers and the series has already secured international distribution.
I suggest you get with the real fair dinkum action and tune to Real Life Water Rats.
We are experiencing great difficulty with the Commonwealth and State governments in identifying the types of equipment that are needed in this appeal. At this time there is no Government process that has identified the specific fishing equipment needs of the people impacted by the Boxing Day tragedy and there is no structure in place enabling any used equipment to be collected and delivered to the people most in need.
Quite obviously if we are to assist rather than hinder the relief effort we need a clear statement of the needs and a process that can ensure that our equipment donations are delivered to the best effect. When the equipment identification and distribution arrangements are in place we will let you know and will then encourage you to give generously.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has commenced an information campaign to advise changes to distress beacon monitoring arrangements. From February 2009 only digital 406 MHz EPIRBS will be monitored by satellites and current analogue 121.5 beacons will not be received from that time. It is therefore recommended that vessel operators switch to a 406 EPIRB when the battery on their current beacon expires. Further advice is available at www.amsa.gov.au/beacons .
At the first meeting of the new TFIC Board your Directors discussed the ever increasing number of industry issues immediately after the election of Office Bearers. Neil Stump has been elected President and Steve Gasparinatos has been elected Vice President and Treasurer. Other Directors for the next two years are Rodney Behrens, Rodney Herweynen, Tom Kennedy, Mick Murphy, Lindsay Newman, Neville Perryman and Peter Stegmann.
The outgoing Directors who did not seek re-election were Sandra Gillanders, John Hammond and Stuart Richey.
Issues discussed at the TFIC Board meeting included the resignation of the CE, a Directors Code of Conduct and administration matters, reviewing TFIC’s representation on committees, the TFIC Leadership Development Program, a review of TFIC policies, formal adoption of the audited 2004 Accounts, MPAs in Tasmania and the south east region, TFIC Strategic Planning, the new Fishing Today arrangements, MAST issues including Deepwater Jetty and proposed fee increases, staff matters, the relationship with ASIC, tsunami relief, Bureau of Meteorology observations, marine structure leases and a whole lot more.
The 19th TFIC Annual General meeting was held on the same day at TFIC commencing at 2.00 pm and copies of the 2004 TFIC Annual Report are available on request from the TFIC office.
Many, Many Thanks and Goodbye
By now many readers of Fishing Today would be well aware that I have resigned as Chief Executive of TFIC. I handed a letter advising of my decision to resign to the new TFIC Board on 18 April 2005. Under my employment contract I am required to provide three months notice in writing which means that in honouring this obligation my departure from TFIC will be effective from 22 July 2005. Many people are aware of the reasons behind my decision so there is no point in elaborating here.
However, as this is my last TFIC News article for Fishing Today, I want to take his opportunity to record my sincere thanks to everyone involved in allowing me to represent all TFIC members for the last 11 years. I have met some absolutely wonderful people in our fabulous industry and have thoroughly enjoyed assisting the industry, sectors and individuals through what in retrospect have been pretty difficult times. In thinking through all the issues the industry, legislation, fisheries and aquaculture management and even attitudes have all changed dramatically and in most cases for the better. We have collectively achieved a lot and I am very proud to have played my part in managing all the issues as they have occurred. The magnitude and seriousness of matters and the paper work has all increased over time to a point where the old days of working hard and then resting have long gone.
TFIC is highly respected within Tasmania and around Australia and we remain at the forefront of the fishing industry representative process. The standout industry people during my time at TFIC have been without doubt Stuart Richey and Colin Dyke and I am so very grateful for their separate wise guidance and leadership on just so many issues.
I have also very much appreciated the support received from all the people at DPIWE, AFMA, ASIC, MAST, HPC, Marine Police, TAFI and FRDC to name just a few. We have not always agreed on every issue but the solid working relationship with these dedicated professional people has been of immense benefit to our industry. I hope that the new Chief Executive Officer of TFIC whoever he or she may be is given the same courtesy and opportunities that I have enjoyed.
For my own staff in Anne Gay, Ralph Mitchell and Julie Martin at TFIC I just cannot say enough. Morning tea and lunch breaks have never existed. They have all been very committed to all the tasks in hand, have performed well beyond reasonable expectations and I am very grateful for all their efforts and support.
On my departure from TFIC I intend to set up a part time consultancy business specialising in seafood issues, so if you need a very experienced, committed and passionate industry person to assist your business then I may be able to help. My private email address is boblister2@bigpond.com or I can be contacted at home on 03 6227 8270. I hope my many contributions over a long period of time have been appreciated and I wish all TFIC members, Government Ministers, agency staff and everyone else involved in our industry all the very best for the future.
I will certainly miss you all.
Cheers, Bob Lister
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