The Queensland Government has announced a second round of voluntary licence buybacks for commercial fishers associated with the State’s new net-free fishing zones.
Fisheries Minister Leanne Donaldson said there had been detailed consultation with stakeholders. The new round of licence buybacks started on Monday, 8 August.
‘Three net-free zones at Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton were introduced on 1 November last year as part of the sustainable fishing election commitment,’ Minister Donaldson said.
‘We have delivered on our promise to implement net-free zones and to take advantage of the tourism potential of fishery resources.’
The Government set aside $10 million to help commercial fishers adjust to the introduction of the net-free zones.
‘Under the first round of the voluntary buyback scheme, 27 commercial fishing licences were acquired from a nominal target of 46 licences at a cost of $3.31 million,’ the Minister said. ‘This process targeted commercial net fishers who operated in the new net-free zones to help prevent fishing effort transferring into other fisheries. Under the second round of buybacks there will be up to $3.6 million available.’
The Minister said first option to sell would go to net fishers directly affected by the net-free zones, followed by licence holders adjacent to the zones.
‘If funds permit, the voluntary buyback scheme may then be extended to commercial net fishers in other areas,’ she said
The second round of the net-free zone voluntary commercial fishing licence buyback scheme will be administered by QRAA.
Minister Donaldson said the Government had offered a generous and comprehensive package of financial assistance to net fishers affected by the net-free zones.
‘Two additional schemes, the Settlement Scheme and the Impact Alleviation Scheme have already provided assistance totalling $2.5 million to eligible fishers.’
