An online petition has been launched calling for a fair deal for Clarence River prawn trawler operators after the government offered a paltry $133 per share to buy back their trawling entitlements, leaving them without a business and a small payback for their life’s work.
The petition, Fair Deal For Clarence River Prawners on change.org, was launched by Newcastle based Physiotherapist Stephen Armstrong, who owns 19 fishing businesses across the state and whose father was a professional fisherman, said if White Spot virus spreads from the Clarence River it would spell disaster for the state’s fishing industry.
The virus, which affects crustaceans and can cause mortalities in farmed prawns, but poses no threat to human health, was first detected at a Palmers Island prawn farm in August 2022, then White Spot was found at a second Palmers Island farm in February 2023, and a third farm in April 2023, which saw the control order preventing prawning on the river extended for two years due to biosecurity regulations.
As the prawn trawl industry in the Clarence is primarily based on raw small bait prawns, Mr Armstrong said with the current Control Order prawns need to be cooked before they can be moved out of the region to be sold, something he claims makes no economic sense, which leaves the fishery “effectively dead”.
Mr Armstrong provided the CV Independent a letter from the NSW Department of Primary Industries DPI dated October 24, detailing the “Share Buyout” offer for commercial fishing businesses impacted by the White Spot Disease Biosecurity Control Order in the Clarence River.
The letter explains a $5.4 million funding package to support the industry which included three options for prawn trawler operators and pocket net fishermen: 1. Continue prawn fishing while ensuring compliance with the Biosecurity Control Order. 2. Temporarily stop fishing in return for “Act of Grace” income support payments based on catch recorded for each business (option now closed). 3. Permanently surrender shares for a one off “Act of Grace” payment.
“Payments will be calculated using a price of $133 per share for both share classes, based on independent economic calculation by BDO Econsearch,” the letter states.
Mr Armstrong said at a recent meeting it was divulged that there are only 800 licensed fishermen in NSW and 640 fishing businesses, and as nobody else had launched a petition to help Clarence River fishermen, he thought it was time to illustrate the plight of the industry and hopefully pressure the government to buy back shares for fair prices.
“Trawlers require 250 shares to fish, while pocket netters need 150 shares to fish in the Clarence River,” he said.
“The NSW DPI has offered $133 per share to terminate their business, or $33,250 to stop your life’s work as a trawl fisher and lose your business asset, and only $19,950 for a pocket netter.
“This is a pittance for a life’s disruption.”
Looking at previous buyback offers, Mr Armstrong said he calculated what he thought was reasonable compensation for those in the industry, considering Australia’s biosecurity measures failed to protect the Clarence River prawn trawl industry.
“$400 per share is fair and equates to $11 million to remove all prawning from the Clarence River NSW and avoid spreading the virus to other rivers, this would be extremely cost effective for a comprehensive biosecurity intervention,” he said.
“The Albanese government’s new sustainable biosecurity funding model has raised $100 million in three months, please spend some of these funds fairly for fishers and importantly for biosecurity and the environment.”
Mr Armstrong said he is hopeful that thousands of people support the petition, which he will send to NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty, and Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.
To show your support for the Clarence River prawn trawl industry sign the petition at https://chng.it/qm6Y72hMgT.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 8 November 2023.
Related stories: White Spot final decontamination, Two-year lockout in $21m Clarence prawn package, Two-year control order could kill Clarence prawn industry, Third White Spot detection as fishermen face a 2-year control order, Class action planned over White Spot, White spot order crippling Clarence fishermen
