State Government officials to meet with Albany commercial fishers over controversial aquaculture zone

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development officials will meet with Albany commercial fishers who say they were “blown away” by lack of consultation on plans for a 1000ha aquaculture development zone in Albany waters. Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley officially declared the first stage of the South Coast Aquaculture Development Zone — a 500ha section of Oyster Harbour — open to commercial-scale shellfish operators last month. Subject to negotiation with Southern Ports, a further 500ha are set to open in Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound. If approved, it will be the biggest shellfish production zone in Australia. But Albany’s commercial fishers said they had been left scrambling for answers and concerned for their ability to freely fish in the waters that had kept them afloat for generations. WA Fishing Industry Council chief executive Alex Ogg said the zone would provide opportunities for jobs and growth in the aquaculture sector, but he was “disappointed” by a lack of consultation. “While WAFIC, the Southern Seafood Producers and a number of commercial fishermen attended community consultation processes facilitated by South Coast NRM in early 2019, we are disappointed that the commercial fishing industry was not formally engaged at the time draft planning documents were available,” he said. “The commercial fishers were generally supportive of the aquaculture zone concept, with the expectation that areas of overlap between aquaculture zones and commercial fishing could be managed through close consultation before the zones were declared. “It would appear that licence-holder concerns raised during public consultation did not get them a seat at the table for latter-stage consultation processes, having input into potential areas of conflicting activity between normal fishing practices in Oyster Harbour and new aquaculture activities.” A DPIRD spokesman said there had been a comprehensive communication and engagement process open to all stakeholders as part of the zone planning process. “In response to concerns raised recently, DPIRD is arranging to meet with local commercial fishers in respect of the Oyster Harbour aquaculture zone and the proposed zones in King George Sound and Frenchman Bay,” he said. “This will provide an opportunity to discuss the approach to development and management of the zones.” Despite welcoming growth in Albany’s aquaculture sector, a group of local commercial fishers told the Advertiser last week they had concerns about how fishing infrastructure in the zones would affect their ability to fish freely. But the DPIRD spokesman said the department would work with the aquaculture operators to minimise impacts. “Aquaculture licences and leases do not provide exclusive access over a site and, although shellfish farming structures may restrict movement, they do not prohibit access to other users,” he said. Mr Ogg said DPIRD had assured WAFIC there could be “robust conversations” with industry to gain an understanding of their specific concerns. “We will work with fishers and fishery managers to ensure that final zone planning for Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound consider current fishing activities and minimise any impact,” he said.