Key Points
A Rebecca White Labor Government will deliver a better future for Tasmania’s commercial fishers.
Tasmanian Labor have spent time with fishers right across the state and understand how critical research and data is. We will bridge the funding gap in the Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration Agreement and listen to the science as we manage and develop our state’s fisheries.
We will take the politics out of fishing.
Tasmanian Labor will:
- Develop a 10-year Strategic Plan for Tasmanian seafood
- Deliver a sustainable commitment to seafood and maritime training
- Support the ‘Gotta Love Tassie Seafood’ campaign
- We are committed to supporting our Tasmanian fishers, local jobs, and communities. We are committed to supporting the future of industry.
Why we need it
Over the past 10 years in Government, the Liberals have ignored the science and defunded research into fisheries.
They have systematically underfunded the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Science’s research for the past decade and ignored its recommendations.
“We will back in Tassie fishers, their families and their communities”
A Rebecca White Labor Government will support our fishers and listen – and fund – the science to manage our resources effectively.
The details
Labor will:
1. Fund the science
We will invest $1.8 million each year to bridge the funding gap in the Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration Agreement, which ensures the Institute of Marine & Antarctic Science is fully funded to do the research necessary for Government to manage and develop Tasmania’s marine resources.
“we will back in Tassie fishers, their families and their communities”
2. Deliver a 10-year Strategic Plan
A Labor Government will develop a 10-year plan for Tasmanian seafood which provides for the future financial viability of our wild catch fishers.
This will enable industry to provide attractive employment opportunities, financial security, and economic return to fishers, allowing them to support their families and the communities they live in.
3. Fund an integrated biotoxin monitoring program
Labor will fund a $111,000 a year annual government contribution to biotoxin testing costs, and recognise the importance of securing a simpler and more cost effective way to test.
4. Support commercial fishers
A Labor Government will support commercial fishers by:
- Committing $450,000 over three years to support the Seafood Industry Tasmania’s marketing and promotion campaigns.
- Acknowledging the importance of the Abalone Industry Re-Investment Fund.
- Committing to a regional approach to managing Centrostephanus.
- Continuing the essential rock lobster translocation program.
- Acknowledging the many complexities for our oyster sector in Tasmania and committing to work with the sector to unravel the barriers to ongoing productivity and growth.
- Delivering a sustainable commitment to seafood and maritime training.
- Rebuilding the capacity of Primary Industries within NRE Tasmania, as it deals with reviewing the Living Marine Resources Management Act, implementing Harvest Strategies, developing new rules for calamari and implementing a new sardine fishery.