Tasmania’s peak body for recreational fishing has welcomed a parliamentary inquiry report into the south-east sand flathead fishery closure, calling on the state government to act quickly on its recommendations.
The Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing said the report, released on Tuesday, provides “a clear pathway to rebuild trust, strengthen management and get the fishery back on track.”
TARFish CEO Jane Gallichan said the committee had delivered “a constructive and timely report” and the focus now is on making sure recommendations are put into action.
“We need the government to commit to implementing the recommendations, particularly consulting on reopening criteria within a recovery plan, reinstating the compliance committee and developing a harvest strategy,” she said.
Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce defended the closure, saying it “was an extremely tough decision to make, but it was the right one.”
“We want to see our future generations fishing for Sand Flathead and this decision provides the best chance for our $1.2 million restocking program to get sand flathead back to manageable levels,” he said.
Gallichan said recreational fishers were “blindsided” by the decision and called for greater involvement in future decisions.
“We want to do the right thing and we want to be part of the solution,” she said.
She said more investment in marine police and better communication with fishers about the state of stocks would help prevent future closures.
TARFish said it had supported earlier restrictions including reduced bag limits and changed size limits but opposed the closure because it was made “without consultation, behind closed doors, in a way that absolutely eroded trust with Tasmania’s recreational fishers.”
Deputy Labor leader Janie Finlay said the report showed the government had failed to properly manage the fishery.
“The Rockliff government ignored expert advice, failed to act early enough and failed to properly fund the science and management needed to protect the fishery,” she said.
The south-east sand flathead fishery has been closed since March 1 after data from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies showed stocks had crashed to just 5% of unfished biomass.
The government previously committed $1.2 million over two years to a restocking program but has not set a reopening date.
TARFish will seek an urgent meeting with the minister to discuss the report and next steps.
