Public consultation on Queensland fisheries reform extended

Queenslanders now have more time to have their say on the Palaszczuk Government’s vision for the future management of Queensland’s fisheries.

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Leanne Donaldson today announced the public consultation period on the Green Paper on Fisheries Management Reform in Queensland had been extended from 10 to 12 weeks.

“Based on the ongoing level of interest and community feedback on the Green Paper, public comment will now be open for an extra two weeks and close on 14 October 2016,” Minister Donaldson said.

 “I have listened to calls from Shane King, the Member for Kallangur and other MPs including the Members for Lytton, Mackay, Redcliffe, Keppel, Gladstone, Barron River and Maryborough, who highlighted strong community interest in the green paper and lobbied on behalf of their constituents for more time to submit feedback.

“There has already been a tremendous response and I would like to thank all those who have taken the time to make a submission.

“The Green Paper was released in July and puts forward a possible framework to manage Queensland’s wild harvest fisheries into the future.

“The government is committed to ensuring Queensland’s fisheries resources are managed in a sustainable and responsible manner. These resources are owned by all Queenslanders and I encourage everyone to have their say while the consultation period is open.

“People across all sectors have already provided valuable feedback, with more than 4,000 responses received, including 700 online surveys, 30 written submissions and over 3,300 emails.

“Officers from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have also met with more than 200 individuals across the state."

The Green Paper has 10 key proposals for reform which represent the most significant change to fisheries management in more than 20 years.

 The 10 key areas for reform outlined in the Green Paper are:

• managing target stocks
• managing impacts on the ecosystem including non-target species
• resource sharing arrangements between sectors
• access to resources
• decision-making framework
• harvest strategies
• data and information
• consultation and engagement
• fisheries compliance
• contributing to the costs of management.

The Green Paper is available for public comment until 14 October 2016 and can be viewed at www.daf.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.

Complete the feedback survey online at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au, by post or email your submission to fisheriesreview@daf.qld.gov.au

ENDS

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