2019-07-18 OM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Fishing Futures

bait and tackle outlets in Noosa. The K8 ocean beach mullet fishery is considered a low value fishery with
females attracting $4/kg and males $2/kg to the fishermen (referred to as the beach price). These prices are
lower than what the local N1 fisher is achieving. Initial conversations recorded with local seafood outlets report
that they take very little fish from local commercial fishers however closer analysis has identified numerous
retail outlets that sell locally caught net species such as mullet, flathead and whiting for human consumption
in the Noosa region. A local net fisher who fishes the lakes and river throughout the year will typically supply
product to the local bait and tackle shops or the a local Food Van.

Without a detailed analysis of the supply chain and sales information from processors and commercial fishers,
attributing a precise value to the Noosa region of the economic benefits from commercially harvested seafood
is not possible. Also, difficult to quantify is the economic value of the principal species (mullet) caught in the
lakes and rivers. A local net fisher has identified their indicative prices per kg for their product sold to local bait
and tackle outlets as well as their produce supplied for human consumption, however they were unable to
provide any data on the volume of fish sold.

Information supplied by the Noosa Council on an Industry sector analysis7 in 2017/18, for the Noosa Shire
Council area contributed 3.3% of Regional QLD’s Fishing, Hunting and Trapping employment and 3.1% of its
value added. Industry sector profiles reveal the way in which each industry contributes to the economy in
Noosa Shire Council area using ten economic measures generated by NIEIR8 economic modelling. This helps
in understanding the role each industry sector plays in the economy. In the first chart, you can also see how
the output of an industry is divided between local sales, domestic exports and international exports. This
information can reveal how an industry is structured, and whether it is focused on exporting or on serving the
local population.




7
    https://economy.id.com.au/rda-sunshine-coast/industry-sector-analysis?IndkeyNieir=23004&WebID=100

8
    National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR)

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