WAFIC and WRLC Boards welcome Minister's announcement of move to IQM

On behalf of the respective Boards, Kim Colero, Chairman of the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC), and John Cole, Chairman of the Western Rock Lobster Council (WRLC) welcomed Fisheries Minister Norman Moore’s announcement today that the Western Rock Lobster fishery would be managed under an Individual Quota Management (IQM) system next season.

 

 

The Chairmen said that this decision represents a significant milestone in the history of fisheries management in Western Australia and will deliver major reform in the lobster industry over time.

The benefits of this reform to the industry and the Western Australian community include:

  • Development of a market oriented culture;
  • Providing more secure and clearer access rights boosting confidence and encouraging greater investment stability in the fishery;
  • Granting fishermen greater control over the operation of their businesses with less reliance on government intervention; and
  • Improving workplace safety for skippers and crew.

 

“This initiative responds to the clear need to reform management arrangement in the fishery to realign incentives towards market demand and cost minimisation as well as encouraging greater cooperation between licence holders.” they said.

 

Mr Colero said that WAFIC had designed principles to underpin IQM systems in fisheries generally as well as suggested rules for the lobster fishery. These provided the basis for consultation with the industry and provided the basis for the Department of Fisheries recommended rules to the Minister that should apply in the first year of the new quota system.

 

“Both WAFIC and the WRLC will be working with the industry to ensure that the new quota arrangements are practically applied and are monitored and refined so that over time the full benefits of the quota model can be realised,” they said.

 

“The Department’s quota implementation team deserve great credit in designing the new management system in such a short time period and we wish to thank the team for its effort,” Mr Cole said.

 

Both Chairmen said their organisations would work closely with Government to ensure the major initiative was in place for the start of the 2010-11 rock lobster season.

 

Kim Colero 0419271950                                                   John Cole 0409107766