Michelle Daw, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Yorke Peninsula commercial fishers say they are being discriminated against by a new fees regime that took effect this month, which has been described as a “kick in the guts” that could send them out of business.

The fees are based on a quota system aimed at making fishers pay the full cost of government management for King George whiting, garfish and calamari, in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf only.

Yorketown commercial fisher Shane Bishop said the quotas would ultimately increase fees for fishers by more than 400 per cent and were not being applied to those species in the West Coast or South East zones.

Information from Primary Industries and Regions South Australia shows that a quota does apply in the South East zone for snapper only.

Figures provided by PIRSA to the Marine Fishers Association show management costs for whiting are $3.06 per kilogram for GSV and $1.27/kg in Spencer Gulf, while for garfish they are $1.95 and $1.38 respectively.

“The original idea was for the whole state to go to a quota, but because only the fishers in Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent are subject to quotas, we are paying the lion’s share,” Mr Bishop said.

“Fishing in GSV now is really tough — the costs are so high.”

Narungga MP Fraser Ellis said it appeared the State Government was trying to force commercial fishers out of GSV.

“I think the gulf fishers have been victimised going back more than 10 years, starting with the marine parks being closed off (to fishing), through to the introduction of quotas,” he said. 

“They have had 10 years of being kicked in the guts by the government,” Narungga MP Fraser Ellis said.

“The first and most important thing to do is to re-evaluate the fee structure.

“These fees are unfair — they need to be commensurate with what the fishers can make from their businesses.

“The government needs to do away with the cost-recovery model and implement the fees accordingly.”

In December, fishers won a reprieve when Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven announced a more than $1.5 million subsidy to the quotas across the next three years.

This applies to quotas for licensed whiting, calamari, garfish and snapper fishers in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf, equating to about $150,000 per year for each species.

All licence holders must pay the same base fee of 30 per cent, while 70 per cent of management fees would be based on quota units allocated.

MFA executive officer Pat Tripodi said PIRSA had rejected the latest MFA proposal to change to a 45/55 split between the base fee and quota fees for all species, rather than the current 70/30 split.

“This change would have provided certainty and security to licence holders, as well as allowing them to make a small profit,” he said.

However, Mr Tripodi said he was encouraged by a recent letter from PIRSA which indicated the department was willing to enter into further negotiations.

PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture executive director Gavin Begg said quotas were applied to ensure sustainability of a species based on research of fish stocks.

He said PIRSA was open to considering other options for the licence fee structure.

“Unfortunately, the working group — which was formed with all relevant stakeholders — could not reach a consensus on the licence fee structure and as a result the MFA’s proposal was not successful,” he said.

“The working group will be reconvened in 2024-25 to further explore the ongoing licence fee structure.”

In May, Minister Scriven announced funding to develop a blueprint to foster ongoing productivity of the commercial Marine Scalefish Fishery.

A steering committee chaired by former MP Patrick Conlon, and comprising industry representatives, has been tasked with producing the blueprint by November 30. 

Pushed to breaking point

Curramulka fisher David Short says the state government seems determined to shut down commercial fishing in Gulf St Vincent.

“There won’t be a (commercial) fisher left in Gulf St Vincent if they keep going the way they are,” he said.

In 2024/25, Mr Short will have to pay $3.065 per kilogram of King George Whiting caught in GSV and $1.27 per kg of whiting caught in Spencer Gulf.

He said those figures would continue to rise when the current three-year offset subsidy finishes.

The unit fees for quota species were in addition to the base fee.

“Fuel, commission, transport, power, ramp fees and equipment costs are increasing while the wholesale market price for our fish has not,” Mr Short said.

“The West Coast and South East zone fishers incur no additional costs, they only pay the base fee.”

Veteran Stansbury fisher Paul Germein said he was being unfairly treated by PIRSA as one of the few remaining commercial fishers in Gulf St Vincent.

“Our fees are ridiculously high compared with everyone else,” he said.

“All of a sudden, it’s taking more than 10 per cent of my earnings away.”

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 16 July 2024.