WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER
FISHERY — WHALE INTERACTIONS
420. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to question without notice
390 asked yesterday about the proposal by the Western Rock Lobster Council to
reduce the number of pots in the water during the whale migration period from 1
April to 31 October each year to reduce whale interactions. Is the minister
considering a 50 per cent reduction in pot numbers with a 200-pot maximum limit
on all licences, which may unfairly impact fishers with more than 400 pots?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The following information has been provided by the Minister for Fisheries.
The
Minister for Fisheries is currently considering all recommendations made by the
Western Rock Lobster Council to amend
the west coast rock lobster management plan as a result of the COVID-19 package
agreed to and announced on 12 March 2020.