The Tasmanian Government is taking action to cut red tape and streamline processes in our fishing industry with consultation on a draft bill now open for comment.
The draft Bill will amend the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and the Fishing (Licence Ownership and Interest) Registration Act 2001 to modernise processes and make it easier for fishers to report their catches electronically.
The Tasmanian Government committed $5 million over four years in the 2018-19 Budget to develop digital licensing and reporting platforms, and this legislation will mark another important step in delivering this commitment.
It follows the first stage of a digital licensing platform, FishPort, that was launched in March and allows fishers to make applications electronically, reducing the need for paper-based processes.
The proposed amendments will support expansion of FishPort functionality and facilitate the development of an Electronic Record System for catch and effort reporting.
Paper-based processes will continue alongside the proposed digital options to ensure Tasmanians have freedom of choice.
Consultation closes on 14 December and I encourage everyone interested to jump online and have their say on these proposed reforms.
For more information or to provide feedback on the draft Bill, go to https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/digital-processes-bill
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