NT fishing: Wild caught NT barramundi to be phased out after four years

The Territory government will go-ahead with its promise to ban gillnets, despite its impact on a Territory industry.

Fisheries Minister Gerard Maley has met with the Territory’s commercial seafood sector, five months after announcing a CLP government would support a ban on gillnet fishing.

Minister Maley met with NT Seafood Council independent chair Joanne Butterworth-Gray and chief executive Daniel Capps last week, finally breaking the ice after the CLP announced its gillnet ban in August 2024 without first consulting industry.

Mr Maley emerged from the meeting saying the gillnet ban would be phased out after a “fair and balanced transition”.

“We won’t rush this process,” he said.

In an industry newsletter late last year, Ms Butterworth-Gray said an unintended consequence of the gillnet ban would be the end of wild caught barramundi and threadfin from Territory restaurants.

Simon Jeffrey at the Francis Bay marina. The industry is concerned about the impact a gillnet ban will have on wild barra. Photo: Rebecca Parker / The Australian

“One of the unintended consequences of the CLP election policies could be the removal of wild-caught barramundi and king threadfin from the menu of iconic Territory tourism products,” Ms Butterworth-Gray said.

“That would be a huge loss to visitors and their motivation for visiting or dining out in Darwin.

Mr Maley said government and the NTSC would continue to work towards phasing out gillnets.

He did not say why the decision had been taken to ban gillnets given their significance in providing wild caught barra and that regular checks of Territory fisheries rate them pristine in terms of fish stocks.

“We had a constructive meeting with the Northern Territory Seafood Council discussing both the challenges facing the industry and the opportunities ahead,” Mr Maley said.

“Phasing out gillnets was a commitment we took to the election, and we remain focused on delivering a fair and balanced transition in close collaboration with industry, to implement this policy within four years.

Deputy Chief and Fisheries minister Gerard Maley.

“We won’t rush this process. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is undertaking a thorough engagement process and is committed to working with the NTSC, the wider industry and all stakeholders in the reform of the barramundi fishery, including consideration of future commercial opportunities to sustainably harvest barramundi and king threadfin.

“We want to rebuild the NT economy and I recognise the immense value that the seafood industry brings.”

Despite the minister’s assurances, Mr Capps said the Seafood Council remains concerned about the industry’s future.

“We are encouraged by Minister Maley’s statement that he is committed to an evidence based

approach to decision making with respect to the management of NT Fisheries, and the NTSC is committed to working with Minister Maley and his Department,” Mr Capp said.

However, Mr Capps said the Seafood Council is concerned about the industry’s future.

“We’re absolutely worried about the future of the industry,” he said.

“We cannot lose sight of the fact that, the announcement of the phase out of gillnets has already had a detrimental economic impact.

“When announcements are made there’s an economic impact financiers and banks review the risk profile of the industry and they become very reluctant to provide finance to these operations, and who can blame them.”

“The lack of investment certainty caused by political announcements and departures from established processes erodes financial and therefore economic confidence in the Territory.”

Originally published as NT fishing: Wild caught NT barramundi to be phased out after four years