More commercial fishers will now be eligible to have their East Coast commercial net fishing licences and or symbols bought back under new criteria.

The changes come after the Newman Government agreed to expand the eligibility criteria for the third phase of its $9 million East Coast net fishery buyback scheme, after the success of the first two.

“The stakeholder working group carefully considered the feedback from interested fishers to develop the new criteria,” said Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry John McVeigh.

Offers will be made directly to authority holders, who will have a set period of time to respond. So far, the buyback scheme has purchased 35 licence packages, including 113 symbols for different types of fishing.

“In total, we’ve spent $2.2 million out of the $9 million committed to the scheme, so there’s still an opportunity for fishers to be involved,” Mr McVeigh said.

The changes include:

1. The targeting of East Coast net fishery symbols rather than primary licences.

A licence grants authority to fish, while symbols on the licence define the fisheries in which the licence can be used and the type of fishing that can be done. For example, an N2 symbol allows the use of large gill nets to target barramundi, while an N10 symbol allows the use of tunnel nets in certain locations.

The criteria now allows surrender of N1 and N2, plus K, N4 and N10 symbols, with the inclusion of the latter providing an opportunity for ocean beach, tunnel net and some fishers who target sharks in offshore waters to apply.

2. A fixed price offer rather than the tender process

A fixed price has been set to further ensure equity in offers and to maximise the number of fishers who have access to the scheme.

From today, information and application forms will be sent to all fishers who hold the symbols K, N4, N10, N1 and N2 should they wish to apply during the application period 4-29 November.

For more information on the East Coast Net Buyback Scheme, call Fisheries Queensland on 13 25 23 or visit www.qraa.qld.gov.au.

Definition of symbols to be included in the buyback:

• N1 fishery symbol – allows commercial fishers to use a number of different types of mesh nets depending on the area being fished. Generally, it does not allow for both ends of the nets to be set (anchored), nor can barramundi be taken with an N1. Used throughout the East Coast.
• N2 fishery symbol – commercial fishers can use the same nets as an N1 fishery symbol, in addition to other nets that can be set (anchored) in most cases, and barramundi can be taken. Only used north of Kauri Creek (near Tin Can Bay).
• K (ocean beach) fishery symbols – commercial fishers use the same nets as N1 symbol, and can also fish on ocean beaches between 1 April and 31 August each year.
• N10 fishery symbols – commercial fishers use the same nets as N1 symbol and can also use tunnel nets up to 1700 metres within the waters of either Moreton Bay or Hervey Bay.
• N4 fishery symbols – commercial fishers use same nets as N1 symbols and can also use large nets up to 1200 metres in length to target shark in offshore waters.