Report on the Structural Adjustment in Commercial Fisheries in NSW

Summary

This report was compiled by fisheries management consultant, Richard Stevens, in 2007.  It has been considered by the Seafood Industry Advisory Council (SIAC) and NSW DPI in developing options on structural adjustment, leading to the preparation of the Pyrmont Pact (PDF, 33.26 KB).

SIAC and the commercial fishery MACs are in the process of considering the matters covered by the Pyrmont Pact.Fisheries management presents different challenges than in many other industries because of the community owned nature of the resource, the competitive nature of the operating environment, the diversity of stakeholders, the biological and ecological dynamics and uncertainties involved, and the risk of stock collapse through excessive fishing effort if appropriate management intervention does not occur.

It is not surprising therefore, that structural adjustment programs have been in common use across Australian and overseas fisheries in recent years.

Progress has been made by the NSW Government and the commercial fishing industry over the past 15 years to rationalise the size of the NSW commercial fishing fleet.

The recent implementation of the new share management arrangements provides a solid basis to build a sustainable and viable fishing industry based on a secure access right and flexible trading arrangements.

However, a clear case remains for an accelerated structural adjustment program.