2018-12-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                             11 DECEMBER 2018


Key recommendations of the ‘Taking Stock …’ report include:
   Separating the Qld fisheries decision making process;
   Establishment of Fishery Councils;
   Categorisation of fish stocks into three ‘tiers’;
   Harvest strategies for all fisheries; and
   Monitoring information collection & assessment.


Ordinary Meeting, 15 September 2016, Item 1, Page 13
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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