Queensland Commercial Fishermen News and Views 13Th Edition
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QUEENSLAND COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN NEWS AND VIEWS 13TH EDITION Nov 18 SUBSCRIBE HERE TO THIS NEWSLETTER Around 60 people attended the Innisfail Meeting to discuss the issues about Labor’s VMS Policy and other things. Fishermen are coming together in a way no one ever imagined. We just want to be left alone but now, we are on the ropes and are fighting back. The VMS Battle has taught us a lot and we can only get stronger from here. Commercial fishing is tough and it draws tough people into this way of life. A lot of good fishermen are not computer savvy. Labor has shown complete disregard for the welfare of fishermen expecting people to be able to meet the obliga- tions of a ridiculous VMS policy. There has been no support for anyone who needs help and no empathy from Boating and Fisheries Officers. Don’t forget to wear a green shirt on Nov 1st National Ag Day!!! Disclaimer: Saltwater Solutions does not warrant that the information in this document is free from errors or omissions. Nor does it accept any form of liability, be it contractual, tortious, or otherwise for the contents of this document. Advice contained in the document may not relate, or be relevant, to a reader’s particular circumstances. Opinions expressed by contributors are the individual opinions expressed by those persons and are not necessarily those of the publisher. Saltwater Solutions supports The Fishermens Portal Inc. and the project That’s Wild! and the Queensland Commercial fishing industry. Above: Right: Compliments of Jess Douglass Art If you would like to have Jess do a painting of your Michelle Jensen. vessel you can contact her here: Michelle has a way with Website is : www.jessdouglas.com words and a way with Instagram : www.jessdouglas.com people. Facebook: Jess Douglas - Artist The reason why we have been so successful is all due to her. We owe a great deal to Michelle. It was great to finally meet her at Innisfail on the 9th Nov. Clockwise from top Left: Catching up with old mates Attila did a fantastic job hosting the meeting Marty Bella giving a few points about tact with Attila and Steve Dickson (leader of Qld One Nation) Setting up before being called to start the meeting Dane King drove from Bowen and Shane Card flew up from Brisbane The Innisfail Bowls club hosts. Big thank you to the staff and to Steve Howe for making sure everything went smoothly for us. If you’re in Innisfail stop in the Bowls club is a terrific spot. QUEENSLAND COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN UNITE AGAINST UNMANAGEABLE VMS POLICY DEADLINES To Whom It May Concern: • Whereas the commercial fishing industry stakeholders in Queensland’s net line and crab fisheries met in Innisfail on the 9th Oct 2018 and agreed that the following key points have not yet been addressed and, • Whereas without dissent, the attendees endorse and herby put their respective formal association’s logos to this document and present the following facts: That the meeting outcome was a firm rejection of the implementation of the current VMS policy EMENT commencing 1/1/19 for the following reasons: T 1. Govt and Industry have no idea as to the costs that will be imposed on industry, both socially and economically. We call on the Govt to do due diligence, consult with us now that we have more information than was available during the previous consultation. Again we ask, ‘what about the Regulatory Impact Study?’ 2. We need more than just verbal assurances from individuals within DAF that our IP will not be STA compromised. We require a written guarantee that outlines compensation payable from both Government, partner agencies and from service providers, in addition to investigating options that will help us protect our IP. 3. We find it outrageous that fishermen face fines of up to $130,000.00 where as Departmental staff face up to a limit of just over $6000.00 for breaching confidentially. Whilst we know the SDNRAIC Committee has recommended this be reviewed, it is important to understand that adjusting fines for departmental staff will not fix the issue because no one will ever be caught anyway, and shared public data that is aggregated or has our identifying information removed may be harmful to our industry as well. Any breach must be the responsibility of the Department and not an individual within the department. 4. We again note the lack of procedural fairness offered to industry over the last 12 months. The absence of appropriate engagement has led to a policy and a rebate scheme that is unsuitable. As at the 9/11/18, when DAF announced the regulation, one service provider still did not have an appropriate order form, and both providers were taking up to weeks to deliver the product. There is not enough time left for fishermen to comply because there is no infrastructure in place to support the scheme. The Commercial fishing industry calls upon the Government to postpone the deadline for a full year and then during that period, work with commercial operators to set up a policy that will address the above points. Commercial Fishing participants at the “Stop the VMS” Meeting in Innisfail, 9 November 2018. The Fishermen’s Portal Inc. 170 financial members representing Qld’s net line and crab fisheries: Chair, Robert Pender 0427373844 Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association Gulf of Carpentaria Commercial Fishermen’s Association (50 financial members representing over 100 fisheries endorsements) JOINT INDUSTRY POSITION MEDIA RELEASE: LABOR WILL BRING BACK THE COMMONWEALTH MARINE PARKS LABOR WILL BRING BACK THE COMMONWEALTH MARINE PARKS Labor has today committed to reverse the largest removal of area from conservation in history. A process which commenced under the Abbott Government in 2013 concluded last week with the Senate refusing to disallow marine park management plans put in place by Josh Fryden- berg. This process has effectively cut the highly protected areas of Commonwealth Marine Parks in half. The largest area in the world limited to recreational fishing is now being re-accessed by com- mercial operators, and perhaps most disturbing of all, the Government has now established a massive trawling area immediately adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. Longlining will now also be permitted north to south through the Coral Sea. The Government’s decision is bad for the Reef and bad for recreational fishers around Austra- lia and particularly in regional Queensland. Labor’s commitment is to restore the original 2012 Marine Park Network in full. This includes an adjustment package for commercial fishers, and will still allow recreational fishing in 96 percent of Commonwealth waters within 100km of the shore. It does not affect the coastline or state waters. The original plans were subject to over three years and six rounds of consultation, over 245 public and stakeholder meetings, attended by over 2000 people, enabled 210 public comment days and considered almost three-quarters of a million public submissions, all of which mas- sively exceeded any consultation undertaken by the Government as part of the process to cut marine protection. Labor’s commitment to return the Marine Parks will also involve retaining some very minor improvements in the zoning in the current plans. This includes small oil and gas exclusion zones off the South Australian coast and the Kimberley marine park. The commitment to bring back the Marine Parks builds on a series of Labor policies on the ocean, including the Super Trawler Ban announced last month. TUESDAY, 21 AUGUST 2018 MEDIA CONTACT: GRACE CRAMER 0431 021 105 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT one party over another. But this has taught the fishing industry a very hard-earned lesson, and It’s interesting to watch FQ working. The roll- from now on, we will be working with other pri- out of the VMS demonstrates how cunning mary industries to cut down support for MP’s and Govt can be. Parties with bad policy. First, we put new people into leading posi- You have seen (screenshot next page)who vot- tions. We don’t know these new people. They ed against Mr Dametto’s Leave to move Motion. invite us to one on one meetings where we Without exception, the Labor party blocked any give them as much info as we can. We think opportunity to debate this critical VMS regulation. we are doing the right thing. We believe we are making a difference. Our friends on this are the Katter Party, The LNP, One Nation, Michael Berkman: Greens and the Then, in spite of all the work we do, as indi- independent member for Noosa: Sandy Bolton. viduals and together, eventually a VMS policy is issued that reflects none of the things we The message is clear: Put Labor last. have tabled. The Katter Party did some excellent work this time We then are given pamphlets with Govt Logos big thanks to Nick Dametto, Robbie and Shane. on them saying that we have to order units The LNP were doing a lot of work behind the before a deadline if we want to be sure to have scenes as well. them on time. And then, after all that, FQ sets up the regulation that we find out later Stephen Andrew, from One Nation, the member just narrowly missed facing a dis-allowance for Mirani, has been getting right behind us as motion in Parliament. And still will, although well. now the debate will take place next year after the deadline. Big thank you to Shane Knuth and Steve Dickson for attending the Innisfail meeting. It seems to me that FQ has an agenda.