2008 Press Release

PR331

Finfish Lease Back Entitlements Benefit the Torres Strait Islander Commercial Fishing Industry

For Immediate Release 23 October 2008

A decision to buy out 100 percent of non-Torres Strait Islander commercial fishing licenses in the Torres Strait Finfish Fishery has been implemented through a voluntary tender process. As part of the decision, a lease back arrangement was secured to ensure existing markets remain in place and the flow of Torres Strait finfish (Spanish mackerel and coral trout) continues to supply demands.

Mr Toshie Kris, Chairperson of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), said that following a successful buy-out in 2007, Torres Strait Islanders now hold 100 percent of the Australian share of the commercial finfish quota in the Torres Strait Fishery. “But until Torres Strait Islanders can increase their capacity to take up their full share of the resource, they have agreed to lease back some of the quota to protect markets and generate funds to help build their fishing capacity,” he said.

Historical figures from 2001 to 2005 show that Traditional Inhabitant fishers caught an average of 16 percent of the total catch of coral trout and 7 percent of the total catch of Spanish mackerel. In 2007, Traditional Inhabitant commercial fishers caught an estimated 4.8 tonnes or 10 percent of coral trout and an estimated 3.2 tonnes or 3 percent of Spanish mackerel catches.

While Torres Strait Islanders build their capacity to catch more finfish, leasing agreements have been negotiated with non-Torres Strait Islander commercial fishers. Mr Kenny Bedford, Fisheries Portfolio Member for the TSRA, said that, “the Community Fisher Group (CFG), whose members represent Torres Strait Islander commercial fishermen, worked with the TSRA to negotiate the leasing arrangements in April 2008.”

“To minimise pressure on Traditional Inhabitant fishers, the CFG recommended minimising the number of boats in the leasing entitlements and to prohibit commercial fishing by the lessee in a 10 nautical mile radius of Mer, Erub, Ugar and Masig Islands, with the total closure of Calico, Little and Big Mary Reefs,” said Mr Bedford. These lease conditions do not affect Traditional Inhabitant fishers.

The lease arrangements began in the Torres Strait Finfish Fishery in July 2008, with non-Torres Strait Islander commercial fishers securing annual catch entitlements of 90 tonnes of the Spanish mackerel and 60 tonnes of coral trout resources. Mr Kris explained that these quotas were well below sustainable catch limits and, more importantly, well below the numbers historically caught by non- Torres Strait Islander commercial fishers. “This will provide Traditional Inhabitants with reduced competition and better opportunities to increase their catch,” Mr Kris said.

The CFG have agreed that profits stemming from the leasing of finfish resources for 2008/09 and 2009/10 will initially go toward increasing the participation of Torres Strait Islander finfish fishers at Masig, Mer, Erub and Ugar Islands, where Torres Strait commercial finfish fishing is most concentrated. The TSRA will facilitate meetings between the Island communities to discuss a range of options designed to help increase local fishing capacity.

ENDS
TSRA Media Contact: Kerry Shegog Ph: 07 4069 0700.
www.tsra.gov.au