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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 301 asked in the Legislative Council on 22 August 2017 by Hon Robin Chapple

Question Directed to the: Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Fisheries
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 717- View tabled paper


Question

I refer to Department of Fisheries branded "Western Coast Rock Lobster Landings" (WCRL) tags, and ask:

(a) does the department track every single tag within the WCRL managed industry;
(b) if yes to (a), are individual tag(s) numbers able to be tracked to a single individual or license holder and, if so:
(i) who is responsible for landing tag number 'TF6747';
(ii) who is responsible for landing tag number 'IQ6141';
(iii) who is responsible for landing tag number 'XA0943';
(iv) who is responsible for landing tag number 'XJ6574';
(v) who is responsible for landing tag number 'XQ7283';
(vi) who is responsible for landing tag number 'XJ8792';
(vii) who is responsible for landing tag number 'XQ7732';
(viii) who is responsible for landing tag number 'XN6540';
(ix) who is responsible for landing tag number 'WC0409';
(x) who is responsible for landing tag number 'IY3333';
(xi) who is responsible for landing tag number 'WE7210'; and
(xii) who is responsible for landing tag number 'TV1644';
(c) if no to (a), why is each tag branded and numbered;
(d) are license holders required to return WCRL landing tags to the department as proof of catch;
(e) are license holders required to hold onto WCRL landing tags as proof of catch;
(f) if no to (d) or (e), are WCRL landing tags in some way significant indicators for the department;
(g) are WCRL landing tags supposed to be disposed of in a particular way;
(h) if yes to (g), how;
(i) is the department or any other body able to prosecute for incorrect disposal of WCRL landing tags;
(j) WCRL landing tags listed in (b)(i-xii) were collected in an one hour period from Fremantle Harbour, does the department consider this incorrect disposal;
(k) if yes to (j), how would the department deal with an infraction of this nature; and
(l) does incorrect disposal of WCRL landing tags have a detrimental impact on the health of the fishing industry more broadly?
Answered on 10 October 2017

(a) The tags referred to are issued to operators in the West Coast Rock Lobster commercial fishery. The tags are used to secure containers of lobster from the point of landing to the point of acceptance of the containers by a Registered receiver (lobster processor). The container tag numbering system allows the Department to identify the commercial fisher to which the tag has been issued. The Registered receiver is responsible for the disposal of the tags after the acceptance of the containers.
(b) Yes.
(i)-(xii) [See tabled paper no.].
(c) Not applicable
(d) No
(e) No
(f) The fisher is required to ensure that containers used to consign rock lobster are tagged, until the lobster containers are received by the Registered Receiver
(g) There is no legislation specifying the disposal method for rock lobster container tags.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) The Department has the authority to prosecute where waste is disposed of in any waters or any place where that might result in the pollution of any waters where fish are or are likely to be. The issue may also fall within the jurisdiction of other authorities.
(j) While disposal method is not legislated, the disposal in this particular case is not considered appropriate. The Department has an expectation that commercial fishers and Registered receivers put in place business practices that ensure tags are disposed of correctly and do not enter the marine environment.
(k) The Department will investigate the matter and take the appropriate action, which may include education or prosecution.
(l) The fishing industry works with Government to ensure that fishing activity has minimal impact on the environment, and this extends to the handling of waste.