Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this articleCopy linkCommercial fishing is the only job Brett Fuchs has ever known, but the Hervey Bay fisher says plans to increase no-fish zones in the Great Sandy Marine Mark will be enough to sink his business, as retailers predict seafood lovers will wear the cost of limited supplies.
Mr Fuchs supplies prawns, whiting and a range of local seafood across the state. He's worried the proposed changes will be the end of the family business."So 30 years of my life just equates to nothing with this government. "Prawn, crab, fish … we don't want to source any overseas product. We want to keep it from Queensland so we can sell a better-quality product," Mr List said.
"It's not going to be a good thing for [customers]. They will have to pay extra and it means we might not sell as much as we normally do," Mr List said.The marine park is home to 22 threatened species, 23 habitat types and two areas of international significance. "Although you need to let the consultation process run its course properly and we'll consider all of that feedback and then make a final decision."The state government said financial packages would be offered to people in the seafood industry whose businesses were affected by the changes.
"My boats, gears, sheds, nets and everything with it, I'd be looking at well over $2 million," Mr Fuchs said.
9% increase in protected area = 90% reduction in fishing business. Bit more analysis required here before agrarian socialism hand outs to fishers!
It would be interesting to see what the real proportion of their catch is from the proposed closures. Often this is just a negotiation to see how much compensation they will get.