Qld: New fishing rules will cost jobs: seafood industry
05 Jan 2009 5:03 PM
BRISBANE, Jan 5 AAP - New rules cutting shark catches off Queensland's coast will threaten hundreds of jobs, the state's seafood industry says.
Queensland Seafood Industry Association president Neil Green said a move to limit shark catches would also mean a 40 per cent reduction in hauls of barramundi, salmon and mackerel, which were caught in the same nets as sharks.
He said the reduction could put hundreds of Queenslanders out of work.
Significant changes to rules and regulations affecting commercial and recreational fishers throughout Queensland were announced by Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin last month.
Among them was a proposed 600-tonne commercial total allowable catch of shark, a 350-tonne reduction from the current catch.
The proposal followed an independent review commissioned by the federal government.
But Mr Green said his group estimated the reduction to be closer to 400 tonnes, which would devastate the industry.
"That is simply beyond belief at a time when governments at every level throughout all of Australia are struggling to protect and create jobs wherever they can," he said.
He said the government needed to come back to the bargaining table.
Otherwise, the industry would be asking the federal government for compensation if it went ahead with the plan, he said.
The proposal is being considered by federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, who is due to make a decision by late February.
A spokesman for the minister said he would give thorough consideration to the plan.
