15.2 Consultation, Roles and Responsibilities
15.2.1 Roles and Responsibilities
The Department or Minister is responsible for advising licensees and WAFIC of Ministerial / Department decisions which are the subject of a consultation process.
Responsibilities of the Department in formal consultation arrangements with WAFIC include that it:
• provides annual funding to WAFIC equivalent to 0.5 % of Western Australian commercial fishing gross value of product (based on a three year average) plus a pro rata amount equivalent to 10% of water access fees paid by aquaculture and pearling operators. Payments to WAFIC are made by 6 monthly instalments each year (see Section 15.3 for further information around the funding model);
• works with WAFIC in a manner consistent with WAFIC’s role as the peak body representing commercial fishing interests in Western Australia; and
• engages with WAFIC, sector bodies and commercial fishing interests according to WAFIC Operational Principles contained in Table 15.1.
The Department or Minister is also responsible for ensuring that the recreational fishing sector, through Recfishwest, is formally consulted on proposed changes to recreational fisheries management and is advised of Ministerial / Department decisions which are the subject of a consultation process. The Minister is responsible for providing Recfishwest with a proportion of the income generated from annual recreational fishing licence fees to undertake it role as the peak body representing recreational fishing interests in Western Australia.
Peak Sector Bodies 15.2.1.2
The Western Australian Government formally recognises41 WAFIC and Recfishwest as the key sources of coordinated industry advice for the commercial and recreational sectors, respectively.
WAFIC 15.2.1.2.1
WAFIC42 is the peak industry body representing professional fishing, pearling and aquaculture enterprises, as well as processors and exporters, in WA. It is an incorporated association that was created by industry more than 40 years ago to work in partnership with Government to set the directions for the management of commercial fisheries in WA.
WAFIC aims to secure a sustainable industry that is confident of:
• Resource sustainability and security of access to a fair share of the resource;
• Cost-effective fisheries management;
• That its business can be operated in a safe, environmentally-responsible and profitable way; and
That investment in industry research and development is valued and promoted.
WAFIC provides a monthly newsletter43 to subscribers and publishes annual reports and financial information44.
WAFIC’s responsibilities include coordinating Government funding for industry representation and taking on a leadership role for matters that involve or impact on or across a number of fisheries or are of an industry-wide or generic nature. WAFIC also represents those commercial fishing sectors that do not have capability for self-representation.
WAFIC’s responsibilities can be summarised as:
• Providing effective professional representation of commercial fishing interests and the commercial fishing sector to Government, industry, other relevant organisations and the community. This includes engaging, facilitating and consulting, as necessary in order to meet this responsibility;
• Providing professional advice to the Government and industry members on issues affecting commercial fishing;
• Engaging, facilitating and consulting as necessary in order to deliver the above;
Providing representation of commercial fishing interests on fisheries management and Ministerial committees, as required;
• Documenting priority issues for commercial fishing interests (by 30 March) each year to the Department;
• Providing feedback to the Department on proposed deliverables and budget priorities for expenditure of the Fisheries Research and Development account;
• Engaging with RFW and other appropriate parties with a view to identifying joint priorities and solutions to issues of shared concern;
• Engaging in promotion, education and awareness of key sustainability messages consistent with best practice fisheries management and objects of the FRMA; and
• Conducting agreed activities that are consistent with the FRMA as it relates to the provision of assistance to, or promotion of, the fishing industry (i.e. s238(5)(1) of the FRMA).
WAFIC’s Operational Principles (Table 15.1) outline consultation responsibilities of the organisation in dealing with policy issues that could affect, as a whole, the commercial fishing, aquaculture, and pearling industries; issues which primarily affect one sector, but could have broader industry implications; and issues that affect only one specific industry group.
Table 15.1. WAFIC’s Operational Principles for consultation
Principle Responsible Body Example
On generic policy issues that could affect, as a whole, the commercial fishing, aquaculture, and pearling industries
WAFIC Bioregional marine planning; safety,
education and training; research and development policy and biosecurity
On policy issues that currently primarily affect one sector but which could have implications for the broader industry
WAFIC will nominate the relevant sector body, and WAFIC and that body will jointly represent industry.
WAFIC would represent industry on marina and port access issues, which may primarily initially impact on the fishing industry in regard to certain locations but have precedents for the rest of the industry for other
locations, and on animal welfare.
On issues which affect only one
specific industry group. The relevant sector association would represent itself, but WAFIC would be kept informed and may have a statutory consultation role.
Regulation of gear design or compliance (WAFIC and specific industry associations)
Recfishwest 15.2.1.2.2
Similar roles and responsibilities exist with Recfishwest45 as the peak body for the recreational sector. Recfishwest is an incorporated association and receives 15 % of the revenue raised from recreational fishing licence fees (see Section 15.3) to advocate for, and represent, the recreational fishing sector. Key roles undertaken by Recfishwest include consultation on management reforms, advocating for the sector on issues of significance, education and oversee recreational fishing initiatives.
Recfishwest’s monthly electronic newsletter reaches over 50 000 recreational fishers, keeping subscribers up to date with recreational fishing initiatives, research results and issues affecting the recreational fishing sector.
Licensees / Sector Associations 15.2.1.3
The licence holders in the fisheries have a responsibility to make themselves aware of the fisheries legislation that relates to their activities as it changes from time to time. In order to fulfil this responsibility, the Department assists licence holders by explicitly reminding them in writing of where they can access the latest legislation. This information can be found on every licence (e.g. MFLs, CFLs and FBLs).
Other interests 15.2.1.4
The prawn resources targeted by the SBPMF are not taken in any major numbers by recreational or customary fishers; however, other interested stakeholders are recognised on the basis that the fishery:
• has the potential to impact on ecosystem components including ETP species and habitat;
• targets a species susceptible to changes in environmental conditions;
• currently has a Native title claim within its boundaries;
• has the potential to interact with other marine users in Shark Bay; and
• provides an iconic seafood product to retailers and consumers both locally and overseas.
Based on these characteristics, other stakeholders relevant to the SBPMF include:
• Organisations/institutions undertaking research relevant to Shark Bay and environmental factors46 (e.g. WAMSI47, universities and CSIRO48);
• Local Government and State Government agencies (e.g. Department of Parks and Wildlife49);
• conservation sector representatives (e.g. Conservation Council of WA50);
• Native Title claimant and their representatives;
• Local government (Shire of Shark Bay);
• investors, banking representatives, boat brokers etc.;
• retailers and consumers; and
• the wider community.