Fisheries Minister Norman Moore informed that the feedback he had received, after announcing changes last week to regulations governing recreational rock lobster fishing, indicated the power winch proposal needed further consideration and, as a consequence, would not be implemented this season. He has referred this particular issue to the Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee to examine whether the use of winches on recreational boats causes conflict between the commercial and recreational rock lobster sectors in offshore waters.
He explained that the government is mulling over some serious considerations about the use of power winches by elderly or disabled people who participate in recreational lobster fishing which need further consideration. He added that policing and control of this issue is also an important matter to be considered.
Moore also opined that in addition to reconsidering the power winch proposal, the Department of Fisheries chief executive officer had decided to waive the application fee for temporary transfer of commercial rock lobster units for the 2008-09 season. This would provide some relief for commercial rock lobster fishers who had made economic decisions based on the situation prior to the Minister’s recent announcement of changes to regulations governing the industry.
