Northern Territory to ban commercial gill-net fishing for wild barramundi

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Fishing in the Northern Territory is set for a major shake up with commercial gill-net fishing for wild barramundi to be banned. The government and opposition have both committed to end the practice.

Transcript

00:00A lure for fish-o's at the ballot box.

00:05Labor elected Lawler Government will be banning gillnets for barramundi commercial fishing.

00:10They will be buying back the licenses and will be transitioning the industry over four

00:15years.

00:16The peak body for recreational fishers says it's the right move.

00:20If we have a future that is gillnet free barramundi fishing then we know we're going to remain

00:26to be the best place to fish for barramundi.

00:29Charter companies who take anglers on the chase for a prized barra also happy.

00:35Fishing for barramundi is the lure of the territory.

00:37In the Northern Territory gillnets account for the entire wild commercial catch.

00:43Traditional owners have accused the industry of using nets in banned areas and critics

00:48say they ensnare other sea life including protected species.

00:54The details of the four year phase out are unclear.

00:57Labor says it set aside $15 million to buy back commercial licenses.

01:03The opposition says it should have acted sooner to assist industry with alternatives.

01:09The commercial viability of their industry as it currently stands is not going to be

01:14able to see that industry progress.

01:16That's what's been so frustrating.

01:18Labor says it will invest in new equipment to sustain wild fishing.

01:23Those details also not spelled out.

01:26We're going to invest in different gear so there can be actually probably more jobs into

01:30the future catching wild caught barra that can still be on table tops and restaurants.

01:36The Seafood Council did not respond to questions about the impact on commercial operators.

01:42The industry's future now entering uncharted waters.

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