SA fishermen are paying more for their licences with no fish left to catch amid the algal bloom crisis

SA fishers grappling with the unprecedented algal bloom gripping our seas say the industry is being brought to its knees by rising licence fees, with no fish to catch.

South Australian fishers left reeling by the algal bloom gripping our seas say they are paying more to keep their fishing licences but have no fish to catch.

The Advertiser has spoken to four fishermen around the state who are copping the worst of the rising costs, on top of the toxic algal bloom that has been killing their fish.

Port Lincoln-based David ‘Jumbo’ Backen, 56, is a seasoned line fisherman of calamari, snapper, whiting and garfish for three decades, and said the industry was on “its knees”.

“It’s a joke. We’re paying $10,000 a year just for fees, and there’s nothing to catch,” he said.

“You might as well go on the dole.”

The fee structure, according to Mr Backen, subsidises other fishing industries, while leaving line fishers to flounder.

“The rock lobster guys pay half our fees, the prawn industry gets unlimited squid for free, and net fishermen don’t pay a cent,” he said.

“We’re carrying the whole bloody industry on our backs. Everyone’s mentally cooked. Everyone wants out, and there is no out.”

David ‘Jumbo’ Backen, 56, says there has been no fish to catch amid the algal bloom, leaving line fishermen struggling to pay for the rising costs. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The revised fee structure has a fixed 45 per cent base fee, whereas the remaining 55 per cent fee varies based on quotas caught.

However, fish quotas been slashed by 15 per cent, forcing fishers to catch less while still paying the same licence fees.

Yorke Peninsula fisher Jason Slabskyj, 53 said the rising costs had been compounded by the algal bloom gripping SA seas, “affecting everyone in the state regardless of where they are”.

“We’re going through probably an unprecedented disaster in this state and yet we’re not being offered any sort of assistance,” he said.

“It’s like the government doesn’t really care whether they’ve got a commercial fishery or not.”

Jarrod Day, another Port Lincoln fisherman, said his fees had increased by $7000 a year, while quota units had also fallen.

“I bought a calamari, garfish and whiting quota because I got told if you reinvest in the fishery, you will be better off – we’re going to be more profitable and viable,” he said.

“Yet they’ve now taken 15 per cent of my calamari off me, so it’s like what I’ve paid for, I’ve actually now lost.

“We are here to supply fresh, sustainable seafood for the people … but by taking stuff off us and charging us more for it, that’s not going to do it.”

Fellow fisherman Craig Fletcher has been hit with a $4000 increase in costs, and wants to see fees better reflect the weight of the fish caught.

“We’re calling for a different fee structure that ensures financial viability and gives us a future,” Mr Fletcher said.

“My son is finishing Year 12 this year and it would not be responsible to let him enter the industry.”

The Opposition is urging fee relief, with environment spokesman David Basham saying it’s “disappointing” that fishers have been “slammed with licence fee increases that many can’t afford to shoulder”.

David ‘Jumbo’ Backen, 56, (left) at Port Lincoln marina with fellow fisherman Hugh Bailey. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Opposition primary industries spokeswoman Nicola Centofanti said the state government’s response had been “either woefully inadequate or completely non-existent”.

“At a time when fishers are already under enormous pressure from rising input costs, regulatory uncertainty and environmental challenges, the least the government could do is ease the burden, not add to it,“ she said.

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said the current fee structure was set in line with industry feedback and after extensive consultation.

“The state government has provided a range of offsets for licence costs for Marine Scalefish Fishery (MSF) quota holders in this term of government, reflecting our commitment to ensuring the sustainability and prosperity of the fishery,” she said.

“A further $172,000 (was) granted to the sector to subsidise the higher cost for quota in the financial year that has just ended.

“Once again we see the Opposition trying to create fear, panic and division, which strikingly is not even backed up by the industry they say they are sticking up for.”

Originally published as SA fishermen are paying more for their licences with no fish left to catch amid the algal bloom crisis