Forum to clear up holes in Territory net laws

THE Northern Territory Seafood Council will meet key stakeholders today to discuss and identify the gaps in legislation and best practice industry guidelines regarding the setting of fishing gear

Barramundi net laws will be a topic of discussion at today’s special meeting between fishing industry groups.

THE Northern Territory Seafood Council will meet key stakeholders today to discuss and identify the gaps in legislation and best practice industry guidelines regarding the setting of fishing gear.

Representatives from the Barramundi Licensee Committee, AFANT, Northern Land Council, NT Guided Fishing Industry Association and NT Fisheries will meet at the NT Seafood Council to identify legislative improvements needed to both fisheries and marine safety.

Northern Territory Seafood Council chief executive officer Katherine Winchester said: “Since we were made aware that fisheries legislation only applies to a select number of river systems, we have been looking further into the legislation and industry practice guidelines.

“We are grateful for this matter being raised to our attention as we were not aware of the shortcomings of the legislation and we look forward to identifying the most practical solution to rid the practice of setting nets across an entire waterway.’’

Ms Winchester said the Barramundi Licensee Committee and other stakeholders were wrongly under the impression that the requirement to set professional barramundi nets across entire waterways was banned throughout the Territory.

“Such practices are not supported by industry or the broader community and it is disappointing that any operator consider this an acceptable way to fish,’’ she said.

“It is unfortunate that the social media attention to this issue has some individuals using this opportunity to cast a negative light over the NT Barramundi Fishery, a fishery that works hard to bring barramundi and king threadfin to consumers plates.’’