The State government is progressing the current fisheries reform process and once again the issue of trust is front and centre in the mind of commercial fishers. A part of the reform process is the inclusion of environmental, non-government organisations (eNGOs).

Under the Queensland reform process the State government’s working groups (as a way to minimise the backlash from eNGOS) seem to always offer a place at the reform table to these groups. As the representatives of one element of the community why should eNGOs have a place at the reform table? There is a functioning Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection – you might think this group could represent the environmental interest during the reform process but they are nowhere to be found. eNGOs get a seat at the reform table because there is little political will to exclude these groups.

The two eNGOs that are represented in the current Queensland fisheries reform process are WWF Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS). So on what basis do I make a claim that industry cannot trust eNGOs and that at their core they have an anti-commercial fishing perspective?

eNGOs and the Queensland Seafood Industry

A new and worrying trend amongst eNGOs is their investment in accessing commercial fishing licences. The purchase of an N4 (net fishery licence) was achieved using donated funds but the licence has not been surrendered to Fisheries Queensland.

During the recent Queensland election period the AMCS noted its position on commercial fishing with a public statement from Ms Tooni Mahto, AMCS Senior Marine Campaigner who stated, ‘Gillnets are invisible walls of death for some of Queensland’s precious marine wildlife’. QSIA and broader industry calls for the removal of Ms Mahto were successful.

Letter to DAF_Membership of FWG_21 Nov 2017

Queensland commercial fishers have been continually asked to engage with the reform process with an open mind.  This is difficult when special interest groups like eNGOs are seemingly unable or unwilling to drop their anti-commercial fishing stance.  Industry is well within its rights to distrust eNGOs and in the context of the fisheries reform process how do we achieve outcomes that benefit all marine stakeholders?

Author: Eric Perez, CEO – Queensland Seafood Industry Association

Image Credit: Save the Professional Fishing Industry Facebook site

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