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

                                                                          LONGER-TERM OPTIONS
                              ESTABLISH A NET FREE ZONE IN THE NOOSA RIVER, ESTUARIES AND LAKES.

The establishment of Net Free Zones in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton on the 1st November 2015 was to
increase recreational fishing opportunities in Queensland, thereby supporting tourism and economic growth.
The cost to the Queensland Government was $3.318 million for the Buyback Scheme, $1.026 million for the
Settlement Scheme and $1.5 million for the Alleviation Scheme. The total funds set aside to administer the
Scheme and for the purposes of buying back commercial fishing boat licenses and allocate compensation was
$10 million.

The establishment of a net free zone in the Noosa River and lakes connected to the river is a medium to long
term option and would require support for the Queensland Government. A proposal will require significant fine
scale fisheries data and further detailed investigation into the current activities of all commercial net fishers
that have recorded catch history in the Noosa region. As the effects of a NFZ will be considered to impact all
authority holders of a net endorsement, a detailed compensation plan will also need to be constructed. There
would be considerable benefits to the establishment of a net free zone in Noosa and many of these benefits
are recognised in the Government’s monitoring of the net free zones22 since their introduction in Cairns,
Mackay and Rockhampton. It would also assist an application to the Queensland Government if the Noosa
Council consider the development of a Recreational Fishing Strategy similar to those initiated by other
jurisdictions in Queensland to support the case for a NFZ.


        THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A ‘NOOSA MARINE PARK’ FOR THE REGION THAT ADJOINS THE GREAT
                  SANDY MARINE PARK AND COMPLEMENTS THE EXISTING NOOSA NATIONAL PARK

Noosa Shire Council could work with the Queensland government to establish a multi-use Noosa Marine Park
that provides legislated protection for conservation values while allowing for ongoing sustainable use. The
establishment of a marine park will typically require a Public Benefit Test Report, usually prepared by the
Queensland Government Environment Protection Agency. This process includes a set of scientific guiding
principles that underpins the development of a new zoning plan in addition to extensive community
consultation to seek public support, without which a zoning plan is unlikely to progress.

It is important to acknowledge the establishment of a new zoning plan for the purposes of developing a new
marine park is a comprehensive process that will require government support from the commencement of the
process. Should Noosa Shire Council consider this objective as an option, sowing the seeds of the intent to
work with the government to seek marine park status for the Noosa area would ideally commence in parallel
to the medium-term options in this paper. It is also important to note that up front the costs of this option will
be significant and would require a substantial commitment from the Queensland government. For example,
the structural adjustment component of the Moreton Bay Marine Park introduced in 2008 was $16.5 million.
Additionally, there are other significant administrative costs such as the preliminary scientific works in
developing the Public Benefit Test, along with community consultation process. The establishment of a
Marine Park for Noosa would require the commitment of the local state Member of Parliament and many other
key stakeholders, including the two major political parties. Establishing an internal Noosa Council committee
to explore the opportunity may assist Council to consider the costs and benefits as a way to identify if this is a
realistic long term option for Council to pursue.




22
   https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-compliance/monitoring-reporting/recreational-
fishing/net-free-fishing-zones-monitoring

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