Without fish stocks there are no fisheries to manage. Industry driven initiatives like seasonal and permanent closures, improvements in nets, reduced effort, mandatory bycatch reduction devices are just some of the changes introduced and supported by industry.
Commercial fishing has been a part of the NSW society since white settlement and
continues today to play an important part of the social and economic fabric of
communities along the coastline. Professional fishers play an integral role by
supplying sustainable wild harvest local seafood to the community.
Our Members and the Local Commercial Fishery
Adopting a delicate balance between commercial fishing, community interest and the
environment, is one that members of the Professional Fishermen’s Association Inc.
take very seriously.
Sustainability is the first and foremost issue on the minds of commercial fishers as their
livelihoods are reliant on healthy fish stocks and healthy environments into the future.
Off-stream impacts can and do have a dramatic impact on habitat and fish populations.
A collective voice is extremely important to ensure strong and effective communication
between members, the government/s and other community stakeholders. This
collective voice is heard through the PFA. There is a wide range of issues that impact
on commercial fishing and the PFA is the voice of fishers through many forums.
The PFA does not represent Fishing Co-operatives. It specifically represents its own
members which includes members of a range of fishing cooperatives along the coast
plus many individual commercial fishers. The PFA was established to maintain
professional fisher’s rights including access and habitat issues whilst encouraging
members to meet their obligations and be proactive in the management of fish
resources.
Some of the services provided by the PFA include:
• transparent policy formulation in collaboration with fishers;
• updates to fishers from stakeholder and vice versa;
• information on opportunities and developments;
• distribute information on matters of interest to fishers and
matters of potential impact to fishers;
• information on opportunities and developments;
• updates fishers on the latest research and development
findings and encourage the adoption of these;
• a forum for negotiating on contentious issues;
• forums and support through initiatives such as the ‘Men’s Shed’
to address psychological, emotional, financial and social
issues;
• assistance to access government exceptional circumstances
programs;
• media representation for the local fishing industry;
• media advice and assistance with fisher initiatives; and
• representing the industry at all levels of Government including
Federal, State and Local.;