More than 100 years of Gippsland Lakes fishing industry history will end by April 1, 2021.
The State Government on Wednesday passed legislation that it says will boost tourism, create jobs and protect the lake system, however, for 10 commercial netting licence holders and their families, they will be without work.
The Marine and Fisheries Legislation Amendment Act 2019 will phase out the 10 remaining Gippsland Lakes Fishing Access Licences over the next two years.
The first opportunity for licence holders to exit will be April 1 next year.
Commercial netters have fished the Gippsland Lakes for more than 100 years.
The 10 licence holders will have access to compensation packages consistent with those provided under the Port Phillip buy-out if they leave the fishery by April 1 2020, however, just last week East Gippsland Shire called for a more appropriate support package consistent with the rural market, not that of the metropolitan market.
Licence holders that choose to stay in the fishery another 12 months can then claim 20 per cent reduced compensation package by April 1, 2021.
One of the 10 licence holders, Arthur Allen, said the rushing through of this legislation showed how desperate the State Government was to get rid of the commercial netting industry.
Mr Allen said compensation was inadequate.
“If you read the legislation you would say it would be reasonable, but when read the figures they applied to it, it’s far from reasonable in four aspects,” he said.
“They valued the licence on a willing seller/willing buyer basis, which clearly we are not, and based that on a transaction that took place three years ago. The figure they came to was $8000 less than the actual price at the time.
“We had a valuer appointed to value our gear. They refused to release our valuations to each of us personally, and came up with a figure of $60,000. In Port Phillip Bay, without a valuer, the allowance was $70,000.
“The throw away line used by the minister (Minister for Boating and Fishing, Jaala Pulford) is that we can still sell our gear. Well, no you can’t because who is going to buy it? We are one the last bream fisheries in Australia basically, and it’s all specialised gear, so the whole lot of it is absolutely redundant. It’s just a token figure; it doesn’t reflect the investment in any way, shape or form.
“The minister, when she was down here, repeatedly said that the compensation part will be based on the average of the three best catch years out of five at current day market value. The legislation has come out as the average of five years. For an example, one of the licence holders could barely work for an 18-month period – there was no allowance for anything of that nature at all.
“Where they’ve really got us is they are using ABARES (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences) figures to arrive at market price for the fish and in the case of bream ABARES figure was $9.87 a kilogram, whereas McLaughlin Consolidated Fisherman’s figure for the past 12 months is about $15 a kilogram.
“In my case, we’re averaging 12 tonne a year – that’s a bloody lot of money lost. You take that overall. In our case we’ve been shortchanged probably at least 20 per cent or more of what the legislation, on face value, says.”
The new laws deliver the second phase of the Labor Government’s $35 million Target One Million plan to get more people fishing recreationally.
“We said we’d phase out commercial net fishing in the Gippsland Lakes and we’re delivering. These new laws will boost tourism, supporting local businesses and jobs,” Fishing and Boating Minister, Jaala Pulford, said.
“It is disappointing that the Liberals and Nationals have tried to stop this reform that will boost tourism and support jobs at every single turn.”
Mr Allen said he is angered by the State Government making itself not liable for any loss of life or injury from the result of the legislation.
The legislation reads: Despite any Act or law to the contrary (other than the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities) and except as provided in this Division, the State of Victoria is not liable in any way for any loss, damage or injury whatsoever resulting directly or indirectly from or arising out of the cancellation of a Gippsland Lakes Fishery Access Licence.
Mr Allen said for the licence holders it was more than just work.
“It varies from person to person and it takes no account of what people owe. Anyone that’s got debt, which most people would have, stiff, you’ve been compensated, nick off. You’ve lost your livelihood, you’ve lost your life, which it is, fishing is more than a job, it is your life,” he said.
“One of the real disappointing things, and it sums up the hypocrisy of the government in general, is if you read the legislation, it says that the government will not be held responsible for any harm to any person as a result of this legislation.
“The only meeting we had with the minister, my wife, Dianne, gave a very impassioned address to her about the implications of mental health on, not just the fishermen, but the families, the whole lot. We got the sympathetic noises and that’s how they respond saying they are not responsible.
“I don’t know anyone that would, but if someone goes and tops themselves, I don’t think the government has a moral right to take themselves away from any responsibility.”
Commercial bait, eel and mussel fishing will not be impacted by the legislation and will continue to be permitted in the Gippsland Lakes.
Victorian and Commonwealth offshore fisheries that use the Lakes as a port will also remain unaffected, ensuring that prawns and other species sold into the food market will remain available to consumers.
