QUEENSLAND COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN NEWS AND VIEWS - AWS
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QUEENSLAND COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN
NEWS AND VIEWS
13 TH ED
ITION
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
JOINT INDUSTRY POSITION STATEMENT
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
commencing 1/1/19 for the following reasons:
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
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)
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. Noth-
ing makes sense. There are so many things The Innisfail meeting was hugely successful. You
wrong with this that it looks like the worst is might ask how, given that we are still dealing with
yet to come. With only one stockist for the VMS.
TRACE Track (and the order forms still being
drawn up) it all seems pretty sus to me. Well, firstly, not only did we have the support
from One Nation and the Katter Party, Marty Bella
The Portal has always been apolitical. Even came up from Mackay to meet us. He was able to
now, we are not going to be giving weight to
Oceanic Agencies is an extremely proactive company
catering to the packaging needs of the commercial
fishing industry.
Over the years Tania has provided a lot of support to
our members and we look forward to a strengthening
relationship in the years to come
oceanicagencies.com.au
EMAIL: tania@oceanicagencies.com.au; OR
paul@oceanicagencies.com.au
PHONE:
Tania 0408299602 OR Paul 0439937927
talk about the Green Shirts Movement and answer
questions.
We are primary producers no different to the other
sectors. The alliance with the Green-shirts makes
us all stronger.
Feedback re Black Jew
Fishers also came from as far away as Brisbane, Initial consultation with the East Coast Inshore Working
Mackay, Bowen and Port Douglas. A big thank Group and the Sustainable Fisheries Expert Panel has
you to Rod Timms for getting this off the ground. been undertaken. Communiques are available online at
Too many stakeholders to name. It was great to see https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/
sustainable-fisheries-strategy. Fisheries Queensland is
a couple of people from businesses that supply the
now seeking additional feedback through public consul-
fishing industry as well. And let’s not forget Atti- tation on the following proposed management changes
la. What a guy! Big thank you to Attila for being to the Fisheries Regulation 2008:
unbiased and not giving up on us.
· Introduce a precautionary Total Allowable Commer-
Where to from here. cial Catch (TACC) of 20 tonnes on the East Coast and 2
tonne TACC for the Gulf of Carpentaria based on long-
term commercial catch averages, with compulsory catch
We agreed that the roll-out of the VMS was pre- reporting on landing for commercial fishers;
mature. We are expecting a min of 10% of oper- · Reduce the recreational in-possession limit from 2 to 1;
ators to exit from Qld’s state fisheries because of and
the necessity of being computer literate and other · Introduce a requirement for black jewfish to be landed
complexities. If this reduction of operators will im- whole by all sectors.
Given the sustainability concerns, urgent management
pact your business, then you should be prepared.
changes are proposed to be progressed ahead of imple-
mentation of the broader reforms for the East Coast
We have come together in a way that no one could inshore fishery under the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy
have imagined. If you are a member of the Portal, in 2019.
you will be aware of significant events that have
taken place this week. If you are not a member of An online survey is regarding the changed management
proposals is available at https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/busi-
the Portal, you should think about becoming one.
ness-priorities/fisheries/consultations-and-legislation/
We have a great team to network with and wel- reviews-surveys-and-consultations and will be open for
come new members all the time. Membership is comment until 13 December 2018.
$50 to join then $35 / year after that.
___________________________________ The Portal will assist operators to develop a position
The Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre is statement on this as well.
open for business. Its pretty remarkable. Still
a few things to do there but once it’s complet-
ed it will certainly generate a lot of interest
for the local region.
Regards
Robert Pender
Chair
The Fishermens Portal Inc.
fishermensportal@gmail.com
0427373844
#fromourfamilytoyours
Photo curtesy Face Book
STOP KILLING US an easy target for what has historically been at-
tacks by the alp. It is now an Industry in complete
Mr Furner, despair, I am not talking about members wonder-
ing what they are going to do for work tomorrow,
I write to you with regard to the passing of the I am talking about grown men, in tears, address-
Vessel Monitoring System legislation that was ing a room full of other grown men, in tears,
unfairly passed on 09 November 2018. I have, on wondering what tomorrow may bring. I might
many occasions, tried to engage with your de- remind you that these are tough men, proud
partment on many levels and yourself on formal men, of intergenerational small business that you
and informal occasions to no avail, so in this in- have destroyed through your incompetence, neg-
stance I am going to write to you with a timeline ligence and unwillingness to stand up for what is
of events and occurrences that led to me taking right. These are hard working men and women
this approach. who have always paid their taxes, paid their fish-
eries fees, rose before dawn to work and supply
There has been a genuine effort from industry the people of Queensland with the best seafood
and myself to negotiate with you and your de- in the world. And you have abandoned them
partment but it has fell on very deaf ears. From on your watch. Shame on you. In your past you
the minute the draft paper was released, indus- have taken part in ADF Committees addressing
try had a historical expectation that they would mental health of Veterans. As a Veteran who has
not be listened to. Your department once again embarked on Operational Duties both in combat
proved industry right, the ‘consultation period’ and Peacekeeping roles, I find it very important
as you called it, was merely a tokenistic effort to mention to you that I see the same behavioral
to achieve a pre-determined result. It is for this habits among the Fishing Industry as what you
reason I am including a number of individuals in think you saw among Veterans. At times it takes
this email, ranging from Opposition MP’s, Media, an outsider to bring something to light. You claim
Industry Representatives, Federal Members of to understand Veterans, in real terms you have no
Parliament, Industry Associates, and your fellow idea, much the same as you have no idea of the
alp members. I find it imperative that the word impact that this unfair regulatory impost has on
gets out that your department, under your leader- Fishermen. You have no respect for hard work-
ship and guidance has completely failed a major ing Queenslanders and Australians. Your lack of
component of your portfolio. You, as a minister, knowledge regarding the implementation of VMS
have an obligation to represent all sectors of your is astounding, which was only highlighted during
portfolio, you have failed miserably with the our meeting when your offsider Zac became
Commercial Sector, you have hung us out to dry. aware that you were now privy to the lies he told
Shame on you. You will sow the seed you planted. you. You are leading a department in which you
lack knowledge, leadership and a moral compass.
I would like to bring to your attention a factor Rest assured, you have known for quite some
that has concerned me for quite some time. I time about the mental anguish you are causing
have brought it up with your department on sev- inter generational small business and you have
eral occasions and brought it up with you person- my word, there is a number of us out there that
ally during our meeting at Parliament House at will hold you personally accountable should an-
4pm on 17 October, 2018. The mental health of other fisherman do the unthinkable and attempt
Queensland Fishermen is at an all time low. Your self harm. There has already been enough under
actions (or lack of action to be more precise) has your leadership amongst Primary Producers as a
left a vast number of legitimate small business whole, suicide rates are through the roof on your
owners at the brink. You have personally brought watch and you will be held to account. Hang your
an entire industry to its knees. Historically the head in shame once again, I’ll be surprised if you
Fishing Industry has been a fractured Industry, could ever crane your neck high enough to look
straight in the future. the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the waters
they hold so dear.
I am in the fortunate situation in that I do not
feel the need to list the unanswered questions and If you ever want to have a real legacy, now is the
concerns that have been levelled at your depart- time to do it. Stop this unfair reform process,
ment from Industry. Those that I have cc’d and stand up for what is right and back the hard
bcc’d in this email can contact me directly and working Commercial Fishing sector that create
I will provide them with a raft of unanswered, the backbone of your portfolio.
competent communication (one way) with you
and your department. I have emails, meeting Kind Regards,
notes and recordings dating back to late 2017
that clearly shows the lack of consultation, lack Shane Card
of knowledge, lack of communication, outright
contempt and illegitimacy of your dealings with
Industry.
The lack of action from the Parliamentary Com-
mittee, a one sided pre determined result is pub-
licly available through Hansard which I would
think is very embarrassing to your barely tenable
position in Ferny Grove. Rest assured our efforts
will not stop here, with an upcoming Federal
Election I and others intend to make your con-
stituents well aware of your treachery when they
buy their seafood at Christmas and let them
know that next years imported Basa may not be
of the quality of this years locally caught product. Photo curtesy Face Book. Mackay Fishers boycott
We are a proud Industry, finally united, that has the Boating and Fishing meeting
been dealt the death knell by the very minister
that should have had our back. You disgust me...
and everyone that goes near you when they know
what you have done will be disgusted too.
We will prevail. Hard working Australians always
do. My Industry has provided Queenslanders
and Australians with the very best seafood in
the world without debate. We work hard, tireless
hours to provide for the community and make
sure that they reap the benefits of living in a
country surrounded by bountiful waters.
Your hardly tenable position merely leaves you
in a spot where you will be a name on a board
with a page in a book. My legacy will be one that
people talk about, I achieved things in my life and
made the world better. At this point your legacy
will be that of a weak man who sold out his port- Above:
those who voted for and against
folio, and in the process robbed Queenslanders of
wrong with the gear / boat / engine / hydraulics
To Claire Anderson & if you catch a large number of sharks .
I have heard that a lot of fisherman are just
Claire, I also have a list of problems with the chucking all shark back because of the daunt-
shark reporting system. I am 60 years old, ing rules and associated fines for shark. Shark
not a tech wiz and I find it very hard to hear numbers have increased markedly the last 10
the recorded messages and combined with years .
wet hands it is sometimes a nightmare trying Could common sense prevail & stop the prior
to phone in. reporting of shark as when unloading the cor-
On one particular trip I had 30 knot winds rect numbers are recorded anyway. As well as
& with wind and noise from the sea action this a lot of my shark shots are only 15 min-
on the boat I could only hear half of what utes away from home and the waiting time is
was said. With the boat motion I keyed in just another impediment in trying to run a busi-
the wrong number of shark & gave up in dis- ness.
gust & went in to more sheltered waters to Thank You,
try again. Craig Hopkins.
It was still too rough so I decided to go home
& phone in at the pontoon. It was too windy ____________________________________
to attempt to phone in while under way going
up the canal where I live. To Industry about Kevin Collins:
On tying up I tried to phone in but the dogs
barking alerted me to Qld Fisheries being at As the largest restaurant/catering compa-
the door already, within 15 minutes of the ny in the Whitsundays Fish D’Vine & D’Vine
first phone call. catering and events is a large employer at the
Whilst the Fisheries officers were very po- very coalface of the tourism industry feeding
lite (although I have met some who would in excess of 300,000 guests a year.
not be out of place in a Russian prison gu-
lag), they were adamant that I had done the We are somewhat unique in that we have
wrong thing & gave me a final warning about long established supply chain relationships
shark numbers with the threat of a $500 fine direct with commercial fisherman and the
next time. company managing director, himself a pas-
Obviously some Fisheries officers have sionate recreational fisher also hold a com-
no idea of conditions at sea and the idea of mercial license, arranged some years ago
safety at sea. No doubt some have not been to future proof supply chain arrangements
to sea at all. I have spent most of my life if need be. He has come somewhat late to
on the water. 18 years in the Naval Reserve the understanding of what is at stake and is
and 35 years as a career firefighter & I find it aware that, to a large degree, his peers have
impossible to have these rules that have to little understanding of the link between this
be followed to the letter . issue and fresh fish supply into the future. He
The price I get for weasal shark is $2 per kg. understands your industry and better still un-
whole, $5 for blacktip trunk . It is not huge derstands the politics which goes on behind
money & the amount of mucking around is the scenes.
very stressful. Why would anyone try to give
the wrong numbers on shark. I used to count Kevin Collins has made strong representation
shark numbers at unloading no problems to Government on both sides of the house
but now it is a stressful time counting & re- as well as receiving written support from the
counting numbers just to try & comply .This Restaurant & Caterers Association of Qld and
can be compounded when something goes most recently presented to board membersand management of the Queensland Tour-
ism Industry Council who he also expects overall employment and taxation mix, tourism
the get in behind a process to protect sup- is a big player and it is time to flex a bit of
ply chain and local produce availability to muscle here and do the right thing by those
the local restaurant and tourism industry. who in turn support us.
You can contact Kevin on 0414 785 462
He has been holding discussions with ABC ____________________________________
Landline after pitching the concept of Gov-
ernment basically running the “little guys” Dear Robert,
out of business. While he is aware, a bit I would like to share my thoughts.
like herding cats, that there is no “one size
fits all” outcome his view is that small scale Following the message sent by QF after our
operators, holding enough quota to make meeting in Innisfail that asked us if we need-
a living, but not enough to export or bother ed information re:VMS, to ring and they would
shipping south, are the backbone of local answer questions.
supply chains. He has proposed setting I decided to ring the number and spoke with
a wholesale value on the quota held by Barbara. I asked her, “What is the main pur-
a commercial fisher, and, in consultation pose of the VMS? Surely not just to reinforce
with his suppliers, has arrived at a figure of the non fishing of Green Zones?”
$250,000 and any fisher holding quota of She replied, “The main purpose of the VMS
or below this figure is exempt from the new is to collect more accurate data, as logbooks
transponder requirements. weren’t an accurate method.”
I answered, “So you can throw more Green
To him it is all about a regulation and re- Zones at us.”
sultant compliance and penalty outcomes
which is going to force many small-scale Thinking about that statement later, what I
commercial fishers out of business. Their should have said and the message I want to
quota will be sold to larger operators and put across from this is. FQ know exactly how
“our” fish will virtually disappear overseas many commercial fishers there are and how
as live fish export or sent, on masse, to much product is caught, but what do they
southern fish markets. know about how much product is caught by
recreational fishers, how many recreational
To him it is a tourism issue and about the fishermen, where do they catch their product
law of unintended consequence. What and how often do they go fishing?
seems at face value to be just a fisher-
ies issue, is not. It is also about tourism. I’ll answer this myself…… they haven’t got a
Guests from all over Australia and in fact all clue! So what is the point of more accurate
over the world are beating a path to North data from the commercial side?
Queensland and our iconic seafood, in
particular our reef fin fish are a major driver, We’ve contributed to the fighting fund be-
particularly to visitors from China. cause we believe the whole thing is unneces-
If, ultimately, the only place in the world sary and unlawful.
where coral trout is available, is a restau-
rant in Hong Kong, the government has With thanks
implemented a rule so poorly thought out
that only a bureaucrat could defend it. John Taifalos
Line fishermen
Within the structure of Cabinet and the 0458 643 836MEMBER ENDORSED SURVEYORS.
• Armstrong Maritime Services
www.armstrongmaritimeservices.com.au
Phone 0477 100 833
• Howells Maritime Services: Redlynch
0417 849 072
zac@howellsmaritime.com.au
• Graeme Mugavin 0418 259 014
graeme.mugavin@outlook.com
• Vishv Vidzhay 0438 850 768
Seafood buyers (included bladders) Every time someone rings up looking to buy fish I
will invite them to be included on these lists.
• Aquila Seafood. Peter 0434 526 789 (bladders)
• Kenny’s Seafood Proserpine 0408 783 176 whole fresh and fillets fzn
• Intercontinental Trading. Chris 0418 941 654 (bladders)
• Seafood 101. Ph 0450 108 818 (live mud crab)
• Southern Sky Seafood. Nick 0438 435 799 (bladders)
• Samies Seafood, Brisbane, Wilson 0419 754 214 (fresh whole)
• Fresh Island Seafood Pty Ltd Cannonvale, Matt Calder 0418528136 07 (fresh
whole and frozen fillets)
• www.newwestfoods.com.au Brandon Cross, 08 9249 2888 brandon@new-
westfoods.com.au (whole fresh and frozen fillets. Really need Spanish Mack-
erelINSURANCE BROKERS: Rivers Insurance Nichole Jones | Rivers Insurance Brokers PO Box 5070, Cairns QLD 4870 | D: +61 7 4050 4816 |P: +61 7 4051 8422 E: nichole.jones@riversinsurance.com.au |M: +61 448 045 912 riversinsurance.com.au | ABN: 28 010 242 681 | AFSL: 247093 AON, Ben Collins Cairns 0438224095 bencollins@aon.com AJ Insurance Services E: Joseph.daley@ajinsurance.com.au P: 0404 061 995 Your Notice Board • Set of freezer coils in Karumba: Scott 0437 227 727 • L6- 2inch- 100 meshes deep- 200 meters long. Brand new never used. $900.00 • L18-5 inch- 50 meshes deep- 200 meters long. Brand new never used. $1200.00 • L24- 4 1/2 inch- 33 meshes deep- 200 meters long. Used twice perfect condition except it does have a hole in the middle of the net. Price: $1000.00 Call Selwyn 0408799795
DEPARTMENT OF
PRIMARY INDUSTRY
AND RESOURCES
Berrimah Farm Maka-
gon Road DARWIN NT
Dear Licensee
0828
Re: Introduction of a Vessel Monitoring System for the commercial Coastal Line Fishery
Postal Address GPO Box
This letter is to inform you that it is my intention to make the use of a Vessel Monitoring
3000
System (VMS) a formal requirement for all commercial licenses operating in the Coastal Line
DARWIN NT 0801
Fishery. This requirement will apply to all licenses that operate in the Western Zone as of 01
T 08 8999 2119
January 2019 and to all licenses that operate in the Eastern Zone as of 01 July 2019. To comply
F 08 8999 2065
with this requirement you will need to purchase, install and have an operational VMS unit
E blake.talyor@nt.gov.au
prior to commencement of fishing activities by the specified date.
File Ref: F2015/0073
With sustainability concerns for Black Jewfish and Golden Snapper stocks in the Darwin area,
the introduction of VMS is seen as a cost-effective and efficient way of increasing operational
transparency and improving compliance in the fishery. It is also my intention that commercial operators will benefit from
the introduction of VMS through increased operational flexibility by removal of the pre-departure and prior-landing re-
porting requirements that currently exist in the Western Zone. VMS will also assist with monitoring of fishing activity in
the Eastern Zone and help minimise risks to species that are biologically vulnerable to overfishing. VMS will provide the
whole industry (both Western and Eastern Zones) the ability to clearly demonstrate to the broader community and other
fishery stakeholders that it is operating responsibly.
To assist commercial licence owners to transition to operating with VMS in the fishery, the monitoring costs of VMS will
be fully covered by government until 30 June 2019. From 1 July 2019 the annual monitoring costs will be covered by li-
cence owners through a licence levy paid at the time of licence renewal. This is consistent with other commercial fisheries
that are required to use VMS.
The System will be hosted by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and administered by NT Fisheries.
The VMS unit you purchase must be compatible with the AFMA system. A list of compatible units can be found online
at the AFMA website and has also been enclosed with this letter for your convenience. Based on discussions with AFMA
the department can recommend the CLS Triton as a suitable VMS unit for vessels operating in the Coastal Line Fishery
due to its increased functionality compared to other units (operating status indicator, two way communication, notifica-
tion alarms and extended battery life).
I strongly recommend that you have the VMS unit installed by a qualified marine technician, as any operator that does
not use a qualified marine technician to certify the installation may risk being ordered to return to port if the unit fails.
The department has received advice that operators can utilise any appropriately qualified marine technician without void-
ing the warranty of the unit.
For the VMS unit to be operational on the AFMA system, the ‘Data Network Identifier Download Agreement’ (DNID)
form to register the VMS unit must be filled in and submitted to AFMA. Submission of the form is best undertaken by
the marine technician who installs the unit, so the unit can then be tested by AFMA on its system, the form can be found
at:
www.nt.gov.au
http://www.afma.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Data-Network-Identifier-Download- Agreeme-nt.pdf.
If you require further details on the implementation of VMS in the fishery or wish to discuss any aspect of this letter in
more detail, please contact Mr Blake Taylor, Aquatic Resource Manager, on 08 8999 2119 or by email blake.taylor@nt.gov.
au
Yours sincerely
Glenn Schipp
Director Fisheries and Aquaculture
19 June 1918Latest AFMA type approved VMS unit
In June 2018, AFMA updated its list of type approved VMS units to include the TRITON ADVANCED from CLS
(Collecte Localisation Satellites, France) where CLS is also the service provider for the unit. The TRITON
ADVANCED is also type approved by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (a global reference and
benchmark) as an enhanced mobile transceiver unit (e-MTU) for both VMS reporting and electronic catch
reporting with two-way messaging capabilities.
The unit is fully packed with features such as a back-up internal battery capable of powering the unit for 3
days if line power is disconnected and with built-in Bluetooth; e-mail style messages can be sent and
received when out of cellular or radio coverage. In addition, customised e-forms can be developed
depending on the type of fishery so that electronic catch reports can be sent from the same VMS unit.
E-mails and e-forms at this stage can only be sent from an Android OS device which is not included (end user
supplied). Some third-party e-form applications (apps) are already working with the TRITON ADVANCED such
as IFIMS and CLS is currently in discussions with the developers of deckhand.
Junction Box – “Request for Assistance”
(note that the alert is only sent to pre-
configured recipients and is not an EPIRB nor a
GMDSS)
Setup schematic: Dome (outdoor unit) and
Junction Box (indoor unit). Power supply 12V
DC to 24 V DC (min 2 Amp).
Incoming Email – indicated on Junction Box LED Incoming Email – on MARLIN PRO app icon
(Androide device not supplied)
CLS Marlin Pro mobile application - Longline electronic formThough catch numbers in areas says. “It’s likely these changes
farther from fish farms recov- in water and habitat quality are
ered slightly in fallow years, affecting catch rates.”
they dropped again when fish
returned to the pens. Lobster The finding aligns with obser-
catches, however, stayed low in vations from lobster fishers in
areas closest to the fish farms, other parts of Atlantic Cana-
Near Fish Farms, Lobster whether or not they were oper- da who have reported lower
Catches Plummet ating. catches in areas close to salmon
farms. Aquaculture operations
Proximity to open-net-pen The study highlights the need to established in Passamaquoddy
aquaculture seems to have a big balance the competing interests Bay, New Brunswick, for in-
influence on the lobster catch in of two of the region’s major in- stance, led to negative impacts
southwestern Nova Scotia. dustries: lobster fishing, which reported by fishers two years
Compliments from Hakai Mag- pulls in CAN $2-billion a year later: egg-bearing lobsters and
azine and is an iconic piece of Atlantic herring began avoiding the area,
Authored by by Brian Owens Canadian culture, and aquacul- scallop and sea urchin shells
November 1, 2018 Article body ture—predominately salmon— became brittle, and scallop meat
copy which is a $350-million-a-year and sea urchin roe became
business and growing rapidly. discolored. Melanie Wiber, an
Lobster fishers catch fewer mar- anthropologist at the University
ket-sized lobsters, and see fewer Many factors affect the lobster of New Brunswick, documented
fertile females, in areas close to catch, Milewski says, but she those reports in a 2012 study.
fish farms in Nova Scotia, ac- and her team isolated the effects She says the problems observed
cording to new research led by of the fish farms. They showed arose predominately in the sec-
Inka Milewski, a research asso- that water temperature—typi- ond year of salmon production,
ciate at Dalhousie University in cally the most important vari- when pesticides to control sea
Halifax. able affecting lobster catches— lice are commonly used.
remained relatively stable over
Lobster fishers working in Port the years when there were fish Previously, fish farm pesticides
Mouton Bay, Nova Scotia, keep in the pens and when there were have been documented killing
detailed records of when and none. The researchers also con- lobsters, crabs, and shrimp,
where they fish and how many trolled for differences in catch Wiber says. Milewski’s study,
lobsters they catch. By analyz- rate caused by lobster molting, however, did not gather any
ing 11 years of fishers’ records, wind, and fishing effort. data on pesticide use at the
Milewski and her colleagues Port Mouton Bay operation, so
found that the reduction in catch While the study did not de- whether it contributed to the
was greatest in the areas closest finitively identify how the fish drop in lobster catches is un-
to open-net-pen aquaculture farms affected the lobster catch- known.
sites and lowest in the areas es, Milewski suggests chemical
farthest away. On average, the plumes and fecal matter from Wiber and her colleagues re-
scientists calculated a 42 percent the farms may damage the water cently completed a separate
drop in the lobster catch and quality in a way that harms three-year study of lobster
a 56 percent drop in observed lobsters. “Dissolved sulfides abundance around aquacul-
egg-bearing females in years and ammonia from farms can ture sites in southwestern New
when the fish farms were active have behavioral and toxic effects Brunswick. But while some
in the bay. on lobsters, especially berried of the results suggest that fish
[egg-bearing] females,” she farms hurt lobster catches,overall the study was inconclu- Left:
sive—in part because there is so Hydrolyzed fish frames. (Note the hy-
drolysis tank in the background with
much aquaculture activity in the vent tubes and air locks etc.)
area that it was difficult to find
sites far enough away to use for These will be frozen and then for-
comparison. warded to the processor where they
will be dehydrated and run through a
Milewski says fisheries manag- hammer mill.
ers will need to take into ac- This is the first batch and the powder
count the impact of fish farms will be tested for calcium and colla-
on wild fisheries. But, she notes, gen value.
this problem is just one among
many facing wild lobsters and Watch this space as there is potential
the people who depend on to scale up in this market
them. “Climate change and
ocean acidification are issues,
too,” she says. “Managers need
Readers are encouraged to celebrate National Ag
to include all of this in their Day on the 21st Nov by wearing a green shirt. If you
plans.”
This story extracted with permission from Hakai
do please send in photos for the next magazine.
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