Commercial Fishing NSW Advisory Council

Next CommFish NSW meeting

The next CommFish NSW meeting is yet to be determined.

CommFish NSW

Following industry-wide consultation, CommFish NSW has been established to provide commercial fishing stakeholders greater representation as part of the provision of independent advice, to the Minister for Agriculture, Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Western New South Wales on strategic and policy issues relating to the commercial fishing industry in NSW.

The advice provided will assist the Minister (and Fisheries) to develop sound policies and decisions to manage the fisheries resources and ecosystems of NSW, in accordance with the objects of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 which are to ‘conserve, develop and share the fishery resources of the State for the benefit of present and future generations’.

The Council operates under a Charter which sets out the objectives and mode of operation of the Council and the roles and responsibilities of members.

Membership

Chairperson

The chairperson of CommFish NSW is appointed by the Minister for Agriculture, Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Western New South Wales. The chairperson must be a person who, in the opinion of the Minister:

has no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the fishery concerned;
does not represent Fisheries;
does not represent any restricted fishery or share management fishery; has significant expertise and experience in the management of fisheries; and
is not a member of CommFish NSW.

The chairperson does not have voting rights.

Members

Under clause 251 of the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019, CommFish NSW is composed of the following members
(13 in total):

(a) for each restricted fishery, one person who-

(i) is an employee or office holder of an industry body that represents the fishery, or
(ii) is eligible for an endorsement in the restricted fishery (other than a nominated fisher) who, in the opinion of the Minister, has expertise (or has shown leadership) in the fishery or in the commercial sector of the fishing industry generally;

(b) for each share management fishery, one person who:

(i) is an employee or office holder of an industry body that represents the fishery, or
(ii) holds shares in the fishery and who, in the opinion of the Minister, has expertise (or has shown leadership) in the fishery or in the commercial sector of the fishing industry generally;

(d) an Aboriginal person who is a commercial fisher;

(e) a nominee of the Secretary (who is not entitled to vote at meetings of the Council).

Chair: Mr Stuart Richey AM

Mr Stuart Richey AM has been appointed to the role of Chair of CommFish NSW. Mr Richey is a Tasmanian commercial fisher, a foundation member and former Deputy Chair on the Board of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, as well as the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Mr Richey was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005 for service to the commercial fishing industry, particularly the promotion of sustainable utilisation of Australian Government managed fisheries.

Media release

Chair announced for CommFish NSW advisory council

Members

Several member positions are currently vacant, and an Expression of Interest process is underway..

Member	Fishery Represented
Stephen Bunney	Abalone Share Managed Fishery
Vacant	Estuary General Share Managed Fishery
Vacant	Estuary Prawn Trawl Share Managed Fishery
Ben McCulloch	Lobster Share Managed Fishery
Patrick Richardson	Ocean Hauling Share Managed Fishery
Mark Cranstone	Ocean Trap and Line Share Managed Fishery
Jeffrey Hunt	Ocean Trawl Share Managed Fishery
Vacant	Inland Restricted Fishery
Ryan Morris	Sea Urchin & Turban Shell Restricted Fishery
Vacant	Southern Fish Trawl Restricted Fishery
Vacant	Aboriginal Commercial Fisher
Vacant	Ministerial Fisheries Advisory Council
Director – Fisheries & Aquaculture Management	Nominee of the Secretary

COMMFISH NSW MENTORING PROGRAM.

The mentoring program is designed to assist participants in gaining beneficial skills, insight into working with Government, including decision making processes, and build confidence to express an opinion, including demonstrating interest in being a potential future candidate for CommFish NSW.

The current CommFish NSW mentees are Paul Aquilina.and Clare Joblin

CommFish NSW meetings

Meeting 31, 3 December 2025 - Newcastle and Online

Meeting 30, 26-27 March 2025 - Eden and Online

Meeting 29, 20-21 November 2024 - Sydney and Online

Meeting 28, 26-27 June 2024 - Port Macquarie and Online

Meeting 27, 24-25 October 2023 – Sydney and Online

Meeting 26, 4 May 2023 – Nelson Bay and Online

Meeting 25, 24-25 November 2022 – Merimbula

Meeting 24, 3-4 August 2022 – Tweed Heads

Meeting 23, 19 May 2022 – Sydney and Online

Meeting 22, 16-17 February 2022 – Newcastle and Online

Meeting 21, 22 October 2021 – Online

Meeting 20, 17 September 2021 – Online

Meeting 19, 28 May 2021 – Newcastle

Meeting 18, 23 February 2021 – Newcastle

Meeting 17, 27 November 2020 – Newcastle

Meeting 16, 2 October 2020 – Sydney

Meeting 15, 18 September 2020 – Sydney

Meeting 14, 7 August 2020 – Sydney

Meeting 13, 10 July 2020 – Sydney

Meeting 12, 12 June 2020 – Sydney

Meeting 11, 25-26 February 2020 – Sydney

Meeting 10, 6 March 2019 – Sydney

Meeting 9, 21-22 November 2018 – Sydney

Meeting 8, 11 September 2018 – Sydney

Meeting 7, 11 July 2018 – Sydney

Meeting 6, 5-6 June 2018 – Ballina

Meeting 5, 14 March 2018 - Sydney

Meeting 4, 28-29 November 2017 - Coffs Harbour

Meeting 3, 18-19 September 2017 - Sydney

Meeting 2, 11-12 July 2017 - Sydney

Meeting 1, 25-26 May 2017 - Sydney

Chair's Summary - Meeting 1 (PDF, 388.05 KB)
Minutes - Meeting 1 (PDF, 222.37 KB)

Provide correspondence to CommFish

Undertake a correspondence submission to Commercial Fishing NSW Advisory Council.