Commercial fishermen say the Great Sandy Marine Park zoning plan will kill the industry

Commercial fishermen say the State Government’s plans to lock most out from the last Queensland marine park they were allowed into will be the nail in the coffin for the seafood industry.

Commercial fisherman have slammed the State Government’s plans to lock up more of the Great Sandy Marine Park, saying the proposed changes would mean a “complete extermination” of the industry.

It comes after the State Government released a draft zoning plan for the future of the marine park on Friday, plugging job creation from artificial reefs to drive tourism jobs and a further 791km2 protected as “green zones”.

Commercial fisherman of nearly 30 years Brett Fuchs said the proposed changes would take out “99 per cent of commercial fishing” in Hervey Bay.

“This is the elimination of the commercial industry in Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Tin Can Bay,” he said.

Brett Fuchs has been a commercial fisherman in Hervey Bay for nearly 30 years.

It’s understood the State Government plans to buy back commercial fishing licences in the region.

The third-generation fisherman said commercial fisheries had not been consulted about the proposed changes and compensation by the State Government would not even cover his quota, “let alone 30 years of sheds, boats, trucks, nets, fishing gear”.

Mr Fuchs highlighted the State Government’s changes to zoning and quota allocation for commercial fisheries in September 2021.

He said his quotas were now “worthless” and it was not as simple as selling them.

“They have just taken six to eight hundred thousand dollars worth of fish quota off me, that I have built up over 25 years as an asset, that is completely, absolutely useless now,” he said.

If the proposed changes go head, the financial burden of keeping up with the costs of fishing license fees, fuel, boat and truck registration and fishing gear would be too much.

“Fishing is our food that will feed this country, and we’ve just taken 99 per cent of it,” he said.

Commercial fisherman in Tin Can Bay Mark Alexander and Joe McLeod (right). Photo: Contributed.

Fellow commercial fisherman Mark Alexander, has been fishing at Tin Can Bay for 34 years.

Also a third-generation fisherman, he said he was now preparing to lose his job.

“It’s going to cost a lot of people their livelihoods. It’s unfair,” Mr Alexander said.

“We harvest a sustainable product … [the government] is pandering to the green vote.”

Under the plan, Mr Alexander believes there will only be about five commercial tunnel net licences.

Mr Alexander estimated there were more than 50 commercial fishermen still operating in the marine park, which means the new regulations would wipe out the industry.

“They say they’ll consult with us but they never do …” he said.

“It’s just another kick in the guts …

“It’s not just a job, it’s your life.”

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon in Hervey Bay announcing the State Government's Great Sandy Marine Park Zoning Plan.

Speaking to reporters at the Urangan Pier on Friday, Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said there would be compensation packages available to those people who would be impacted by the changes.

“We certainly have an idea of what we would like to offer to the commercial fishing sector,” Ms Scanlon.

When asked if the State Government planned to buy back fishing licenses, Ms Scanlon said there would be “appropriate financial support available” and the government would be working with commercial fishers on those details.

She said there would be a 30 per cent increase in the conservation area of the marine park, and a 12.8 per cent increase in Green Zone coverage.

She also said the proposed changes meant there would be no large gill netting in particular areas in the Yellow Zones, but there would still be some smaller netting.

Ms Scanlon said the State Government would be meeting with commercial fisheries and welcomed the community consultation process.

“There’s been lots of people at the table developing this plan and I’m really confident that today we’ve got the balance right,” she said.

Chairman of the Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance Scott Mitchell.

Chairman of the Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance (a recreational advocacy group) Scott Mitchell said the draft plan was a “great compromise” in protecting the marine environment and enhancing and restoring fish stocks.

“We’ve got to get a compromise that works to protect the habitat, to rebuild those fish stocks so that we can still go out with an expectation of catching a fish …” he said.

“Overall, the recreational fishing community is going to be very pleased with the current draft that I’ve seen this morning.

Mr Mitchell accepted the zoning changes would impact the commercial fishing sector and said the Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance had always supported compensation for any loss of access through the marine park zoning processes for that industry.

In a statement, the Australian Marine Conservation Society said the proposed changes to the marine park were a “good step towards ensuring the area’s unique wildlife is better protected”.

“The new plan will provide more sanctuary areas and end destructive gillnet fishing in the Great Sandy Strait, reducing the risk of drowning deaths of iconic wildlife like dugongs and green turtles,” AMCS said.

“This will help ease the pressure on both species in the region.”

The Great Sandy Strait.

Hervey Bay MP Adrian Tantari said the draft plan had been a few years in the making.

“I as the local member have fought very hard to ensure that if there are any impacts coming from this draft plan, that there will be an assistance package put in place for the individuals who may be impacted by this,” he said.

Mr Tantari said the proposed changes would look after the area in Hervey Bay for generations to come, including marine life like dugongs, turtles and whales.

“We’re making sure that we have a sustainable fishing industry here in Hervey Bay as well,” he said.

Cruising the Great Sandy Strait in Hervey Bay. Photo: Sheryl Denham

Member for Gympie Tony Perrett and Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the draft plan had been three years in the making, and in the meantime, commercial fishers, local anglers, tourism operators and small businesses were left in limbo.

“It’s taken three years to get to this and no they are only giving people one month for consultation,” Mr Perrett and Mr Bennett said.

“While we welcome some sensible changes, the plan has some serious red flags.

“Of course, it is important to protect our marine parks.

“Queensland’s fishing industries are already bearing the brunt of regulatory changes without adequate compensation or government assistance.

“This announcement yet again reinforces why the government needs a regulatory impact statement (RIS) to understand the full effects changes will have on our commercial fishing industry.”

The community can provide feedback on the Great Sandy Marine Park zoning plan until October 23.