Ellis calls for review of Snapper fishing closure to offset Algal Bloom impact

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis MP is calling on a review of the decision announced last Thursday to extend the Snapper fishery closure for another year to June 2027, made without waiting for the scheduled stock assessment due out in mere weeks.

“After it has been closed for so many years, re-opening the snapper fishery to recreational fishers and charter operators, even with limitations, would help soften the blow of last week’s announced changes to boat and bag limits that are expected to have dire consequences for local businesses and Yorke Peninsula tourism overall”, Mr Ellis said.

“The Algal bloom has had the biggest impact on our electorate and this looks set to continue.

“I especially seek the science behind the Snapper decision and evidence for the need to extend the closure into an eighth year after it was originally flagged in 2019 as a temporary measure.

“Re-opening in any capacity would offer hope that temporary closures are eventually lifted”.

According to the PIRSA website, the last Snapper stock assessment was released in 2022 and the next assessment was scheduled to be delivered in November 2025.

Mr Ellis said he was surprised at the early decision last week to extend the closure for another year and seeks to provide constituents with the justification for this announcement.

“So much research and investment has occurred in recent years, including the $8.8m snapper recovery package and the annual release of hundreds of thousands of fingerlings since 2021.

“We need to know if this effort has been effective or if the Algal Bloom has significantly set it back and I have put these questions to Minister Scriven, as well as others including asking how much of the $2.4 million in the recovery package announced in 2021 has been delivered and how many reefs has the $200,000 allocated to reef restoration projects back then been built? “

Mr Ellis has also sought detail of the flagged measures to help the recreational fishing sector that were highlighted in a paragraph of the Government’s previously released “Algal Bloom Summer Plan”.

“The Plan contains “a package of measures to help grow the recreational fishing sector including fishing competitions and promotion of the sector” but no further information; in my view, with the halving of boat and bag limits such initiatives would appear fruitless.”

Mr Ellis said he has received a lot of community feedback since last week’s announced complete ban on commercial fishing in the Gulf St Vincent and the halved catch limits for recreational fishers, as well as the fees and licence relief schemes and extension of industry and business support grants.  

“I have appreciated this contact and particularly hearing firsthand from commercial and rec fishers.

“My heart bleeds for commercial fishers, particularly those in Gulf St Vincent.

“While there has been precious few fish caught in that gulf of late, to have the fishery officially closed must be a tremendous blow.”

Mr Ellis describes the allocation of a half a million dollars for a “license surrender study” as wasteful and believes this sum could immediately go toward buying quota in a voluntary buy-back program. 

“I am also hearing directly about the dire impact on all local retailers, marine associated and otherwise, from across our multiple coastal communities who so rely on our tourist season.

“It is a very distressing time for many, and we need to ensure that none of our valued businesses slip through the cracks of the Government support on offer. “