The Australian Government, together with the Commonwealth Fisheries Association (CFA), has welcomed news that more than 50 initiatives to cut red tape for Commonwealth fishers have been or are being implemented.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, said this was a great result for local providers of fresh, quality, sustainable seafood.
"In line with the ambitious red tape reduction targets set by the government, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has been working closely with industry, scientists and state and territory regulators to streamline processes and remove unnecessary fisheries regulation," Minister Ruston said.
"The latest round of red tape reduction initiatives include simplifying reporting requirements for commercial fishers, removing duplication in state and Commonwealth management and improved sharing of data with industry to facilitate co-management.
"These changes will amount to a sustainable fishing sector that all Australians can be proud of. I thank industry for their commitment to work with AFMA to improve processes for their members."
CFA Chair, Anthony Ciconte, said that the initiatives were already making a difference to fishers.
"Cutting red tape means our industry can get on with the task of providing fresh Australian seafood to the consumer, without the additional and sometimes unnecessary costs created by years of regulatory review," Mr Ciconte said.
"AFMA have been working with the CFA to target duplication within management arrangements, and in turn reducing the cost for us of doing business with a much more simplified framework.
"The CFA congratulates AFMA and the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources on more than 50 initiatives to date."
For more information on the improvements being made for a competitive and sustainable fishing industry, including the 50 red tape reductions, visit afma.gov.au.
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