Act of Grace payments sent to impacted fishers
Following the announcement of a mandatory buy-back of West Coast demersal and shark fishing licenses, the Fisheries Minister has released its Act of Grace payments to provide immediate relief for fishers impacted by the demersal fisheries closures and reductions.
WAFIC contends the funds should be provided as an emergency relief payment to support fishers in the wake of the sudden closure. However, this is not how it has been established. It is a pre- payment on any final settlement of a Compulsory Fisheries Adjustment Scheme (CFAS).
Fishers have expressed some nervousness about accepting the payment as they feel they are signing up to an unknown CFAS compensation arrangement.
WAFIC has asked the Minister to provide a greater level of detail on the CFAS, while simultaneously expressing our expectation that more than licences should be compensated. Gear should be compensated. Any depreciation of assets should be compensated. A generous solatium should be offered as standard practice for compulsory acquisitions by government. Fishers who work their licences should also be compensated for loss of income on top of their licence value, and special consideration needs to be given to vertically integrated businesses.
WAFIC will continue to push for fair and adequate compensation for fishers.