Flake back on menu as federal government lifts ban on mako

AN outcry by the Victorian government and commercial fishermen has forced the federal government to lift ban on fishing mako shark.

THE federal government has moved to avoid a backlash by changing environmental laws to allow fishermen to catch mako sharks after an outcry by the Victorian government and commercial fishermen.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett last month announced he had no legal choice but to place the mako shark on the prohibited list from January 29 after it was declared a threatened migratory species in the Mediterranean. Environmental legislation introduced by the Howard government meant no discretion was allowed in the prohibition.

The fishing industry argued the ban was ridiculous given there was nothing to suggest the species was threatened in Australia -- or that the sharks here migrated to Europe -- and it would have cost the industry up to $150 million a year.

Fishermen faced an $11,000 fine if caught fishing mako shark, which is served as flake in restaurants as well as being a favourite among recreational fishermen and charter fishing tours across the country.

Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Michael Crutchfield, whose electorate on the state's southwest coast would have been significantly affected by a ban, had stated the government would not enforce the ban in its waters.

He said his government was responsible for the policing of the new laws up to three nautical miles -- about 5km -- off the coastline. "We have no intention of policing these three nautical miles for people fishing for makos," Mr Crutchfield said. "We have been provided no evidence to justify going down this path, so we don't think it's enforceable."

But yesterday a spokesman for Mr Garrett said the government would amend the laws when federal parliament resumed next month after talking to the fishing industry and experts. "Noting the lack of evidence suggesting that Australian populations of these shark species face the same threats as other parts of the world, the government will be moving to make legislative changes to address the ongoing uncertainty for recreational fishers," he said.