The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to improving Tasmania’s world-class primary industries and natural resources and is reviewing the legislation governing Tasmania’s fisheries, which is more than 25 years old.
The Living Marine Resource Management Act 1995 manages and regulates Tasmania’s fisheries with an objective to achieve sustainable development of living marine resources.
The review will consider:
*Sustainability: The extent to which the sustainability objectives of the Act are being achieved;
*Decision-making processes: The extent to which the Act provides a sound framework for living marine resource management in Tasmania;
*Fisheries management: The extent to which the Act aligns with current best practice fisheries and marine resource management principles;
*Future challenges: The extent to which the Act is flexible and prepares Tasmania for future risks and challenges associated with the marine environment.
COVID-19 highlighted some of the inflexibility of the Act and this has provided an important prompt for industry and Government to look at changes to enable operators to adapt to changing market conditions.
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment is developing a discussion paper for consultation including with key stakeholder groups and through forums between November this year and February 2022.
This input will be compiled into a summary report by April next year for further consultation from October 2022.
A final report to inform a new Bill is expected to be ready in mid-2023.
The Tasmanian Government has invested in a range of initiatives to improve fishing in Tasmania, including recreational fishing programs, licence fee waivers, digital transformation to reduce red tape, upskilling, support, and training for commercial fishers, seafood processor grants, and developing emerging marine industries.
It is important to note the review does not include marine farming or marine protected areas given these are planned through separate legislation.
The full Terms of Reference and further information on the review is available at http://www.fishing.tas.gov.au/Act-Review
More Media Releases from Guy Barnett
More Media Releases from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water