2016-10-11 P&E Committee - Item 2 - Attachment 1 - New Noosa Plan Discussion Paper

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                  15 SEPTEMBER 2016


6   ORDINARY MEETING REPORTS
1   GREEN PAPER ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT REFORM IN QUEENSLAND –
    FURTHER REPORT
    Council Resolution
    Moved:           Cr Pardon
    Seconded:        Cr Wilkie
    That Council note the report by the Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast) to the Planning
    & Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 September 2016 and the further report to the
    Ordinary Meeting dated 15 September 2016 regarding the release of the Green Paper on
    Fisheries Management Reform in Queensland and agree to make a submission to the Green
    Paper as follows:
    A.   Note that Noosa Council is not opposed to commercial or recreational fishing per se,
         but rather, wants to ensure that such activities can be carried out in a genuinely
         sustainable fashion for the benefit of future generations; and
    B.   Council supports overall ecosystem based management and locality-based fisheries
         councils; and
    C.   Council supports the target of a minimum 60% unfished populations; and
    D.   Council requests that ecological risk assessments be prioritised both on fisheries at
         highest risk and ecosystems of conservation value; and
    E.   Council supports the encouragement of indigenous input into decision making
         processes; and
    F.   Council believes that more resources need to be applied to fishing management across
         Queensland and that consideration may be given to a user pays model; and
    G.   With consideration of historical fisheries research by Dr Ruth H Thurston, ongoing
         empirical research by the University of the Sunshine Coast, and anecdotal evidence,
         Noosa Council has concerns regarding the impact of current and historical fishing
         activities on the marine biodiversity and abundance in the Noosa estuary and river
         system as well as the surrounding ocean beaches; and
    H.   Considering the current research projects in the Noosa River system and nearshore
         environment, Noosa Council aims to be a pilot program for ecosystem based
         management as a demonstration of best practice; and
    I.   Council has particular concerns regarding the impact of the licensed mullet fishing
         activities on Teewah Beach (Noosa North Shore) with regards to by-catch, wastage
         and also mullet being targeted whilst gravid specifically for their roe; and
    J.   Council requests that the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries give consideration to
         reducing commercial netting on Teewah Beach between the Noosa River mouth and
         Double Island Point by way of declaring a net free zone and/or a buy-back of
         commercial fishery licenses and/or not re-issuing any licenses due for expiry and
         Council would commit to working in partnership with the State Government on a
         process to achieve this outcome including community and industry engagement and
         consideration of resource commitments; and
    K.   Council requests that the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries give consideration to
         the overall sustainability of fishing and prawning in the Noosa estuary and river system,
         on the understanding that current research and projects such as Noosa Biosphere
         Reserve Foundation's Bring Fish Life Back are attempting to both reinstate marine
         biodiversity and also monitor that biodiversity; and




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