The Palaszczuk Government has welcomed five new local Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol Officers to Parliament House on their graduation day.
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the new fisheries compliance officers were recruited last year as part of the Queensland Government’s $20 million Sustainable Fisheries Strategy.
“For the new graduates, today marks the culmination of an 11-month intensive training program,” Mr Healy said.
“Of the 21 new officers to be stationed around the state, three will posted in Cairns while another two will be in Port Douglas.”
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the new officers will ensure our fisheries resources remain sustainable for the future.
“Black marketing of fisheries resources undermines the viability of commercial and recreational fishing, and the competitiveness of legitimate seafood processors and buyers,” Ms Lui said.
“Ultimately it also affects Queensland’s reputation as a producer of high quality seafood.
“It is terrific to see the Palaszczuk Government supporting our fishing industry in the far north like this.”
Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said today’s graduation coincides with the introduction of the Fisheries (Sustainable Fisheries Strategy) Amendment Bill 2018.
“This Bill will modernise our fisheries laws and bring fisheries management in line with world’s best practice,” he said.
“The community has been calling for change to fisheries legislation for many years and the proposed changes will bring Queensland in line with other Australian fisheries management agencies.
“Stronger compliance powers for Fisheries officers and penalties for offenders are aimed squarely at fishers operating illegally by selling seafood on the black market.
“The Fisheries Bill will give our compliance officers the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.”
The Fisheries Bill aims to:
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strengthen the enforcement powers and penalties to address serious fisheries offences such as black-marketing
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modernise the objectives of the Fisheries Act and recognise the interests of key stakeholder groups
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clarify the roles of the Minister and the Chief Executive in the management of the State’s fisheries to allow for more responsive decision-making through the use of harvest strategies
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reduce complexity and remove redundant provisions.
The Queensland Government released a discussion paper on the proposed changes to the Fisheries Act for public consultation in March 2018.
Feedback received to the discussion paper has been considered in preparing the changes to the Fisheries Act.
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