WA Fishing Industry Welcomes Government Support

The WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) welcomes the financial support of over $100 million, announced recently by the joint body representing State and Federal government Transport Ministers to aid the transition to the new national marine safety management system for domestic commercial vessels, including fishing vessels.
The funding support will apply from 1^st July 2018 when the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) takes on sole responsibility for marine safety management across Australia.
Some of the funding will be applied so that no levy will be paid by industry in the first year (2018/19). This funding support does not apply to the likes of vessel survey services.
“This level of cross-government support recognises the importance of the marine industry to Australia for transporting passengers, servicing industries such as oil and gas or providing seafood for the consuming public”, said WAFIC Chief Executive Officer, John Harrison.
“The introduction of any new national management approach takes time to bed down and the government funding support will allow industry and AMSA to work together over the next three-five years to settle on the necessary services required and to generate the most cost-effective delivery of those services.”
WAFIC looks forward to considering the finer details of the government funding announcement and levy phase-in arrangements through whole-of-industry discussions with AMSA in future months.
“The fishing industry is also wanting to work on the promised incentive components of the new management approach, especially rewarding fishing vessel operators with good safety histories with reductions in frequency of prescribed survey and equipment surveys and the associated costs”, said Mr Harrison.
“It is essential throughout the next 10 years that industry is properly consulted and engaged in the design and rollout of the new National System and the flow on levy is not a cost burden on industry,” concluded Mr Harrison.
From 1st July 2018, services for WA fishing vessels and crew will be delivered directly by AMSA instead of the WA Department of Transport.