Policy paper for Tasmanian sardine fishery released

The Tasmanian government has unveiled a set of draft policies and regulations for a future sardine fishery in the Bass Strait.

A policy paper has been released for the proposed sardine fishery, with a draft management plan to be unveiled later this year.

Primary Industries and Water Minister Gavin Pearce said the release of the policy paper was a significant step forward for the development of the fishery.

“This policy paper is the next stage in providing clarity, transparency and certainty for the community about our government’s intentions for the fishery,” Mr Pearce said.

“The development of this fishery is important for our state, but we must ensure it is socially responsible, ecologically sustainable, and delivers tangible long-term economic benefits back to Tasmanians.

“The paper outlines proposed policies for the fishery based on significant scientific research and recommendations, principles of best-practice governance and sustainability, as well as industry and community input.

“I look forward to seeing the development of this exciting opportunity progress under a precautionary approach.”

The proposed policies for the sardine fishery include:

• Fishing only with purse seine in offshore waters three nautical miles from land
• A precautionary initial maximum harvest rate of 5 per cent, or 7500 tonnes, annually
• Mandating stock assessment surveys before increasing the harvest rate​
• Developing a harvest strategy within two years of fishing commencing
• Engaging independent scientific experts to ensure ecosystem risk mitigation
• Research programs into stock-specific sardine biology and Southern Bluefin Tuna diets

The Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) is opposed to the sardine fishery, which it has dubbed a “controversial and environmentally damaging project”.

"The proposed sardine fishery should be abandoned,” BBF Antarctic and marine campaigner Alistair Allan said.

“Targeting a forage fish upon which our marine ecosystems rely is an environmental crime.

“It has been stated that the fish caught are to be used as feed for the factory fish farms around Tasmania, which are themselves an environmental disaster.

“It's lose, lose."

Mr Allan said that recreational fishers were concerned about the project.

One of those concerned fishers is Glen Saltmarsh.

“The concerns are that it will be overfished in areas where recreational anglers use,” Mr Saltmarsh said.

“I think it really needs to be done at a very small scale for at least the first five years, so they can actually get a decent look at it and get a grasp on the fishery.

“We’ve seen examples where we’ve seen them just go in guns blazing and smash the fishery very fast, and the people that live with that aren’t the commercial fishers.

“They end up getting all their dollars, but the recreational fishers are the ones that miss out.”