Structural Adjustment Review Committee

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference are as follows:

  • Provide oversight of the commercial fisheries reform program, in particular:
    • linking shares to resource access
    • the process and initial setting of interim total access levels
    • the exit grant program.
  • Provide ongoing feedback to industry and DPI about linkage options as they are identified, discussed and developed.
  • Undertake a mediation role when necessary in order to progress elements of the reform program.
  • Provide final advice to Government on share linkages.
  • Provide advice on any other issues relating to the reform program and any associated restructuring issues.

Other notes on the functioning of the Structural Adjustment Review Committee (SARC):

  • The SARC may seek advice from other experts as needed, provided the engagement of those experts and any associated costs are endorsed by the Executive Director, Fisheries NSW.
  • Fishers may submit written views to the SARC throughout the restructuring process, noting that the SARC will be focussing on the outputs of the working groups in the early stages as a shortlist of linkage options are developed. Note that SARC time will be limited and so fishers should not expect a direct response from SARC to any written views provided to it.
  • Working groups will update the SARC with progress reports as the process unfolds and may request specific advice and guidance to assist in their discussions.

In forming recommendations, the SARC will have regard to:

  • Increased certainty
  • Strengthening property rights
  • Improving economic performance
  • Encouraging those who wish to leave the fishery to do so
  • Reducing costs of management
  • Ensuring biological sustainability
  • Increasing voluntary compliance.

A short summary of SARC members' biography is below:

Independent Chairman: Mr Ian Cartwright

Mr Ian Cartwright has had a lifetime involvement with fisheries. Initially, Ian worked for ten years on inshore fishing vessels in the North Sea. After completing an honours degree in fisheries science as a mature student, Ian worked in fisheries management in the Pacific Islands region. In 1985, Ian took a position as with the Fisheries Technology Unit at the Australian Maritime College (AMC), in Tasmania, Australia. While at AMC, Ian completed a master's degree at the London School of Economics, with a thesis on overcapacity within the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

His last position at AMC was as Director, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Environment. In 1996 Ian joined the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) as Deputy (Executive) Director and was responsible for assisting the FFA's 14 island member nations with the development of sustainable management arrangements for tuna in the western and central Pacific. Leaving FFA in 2000, Ian established Thalassa Consulting, which has undertaken fisheries-management related assignments for a wide range of state, commonwealth and international fisheries agencies, and clients within the private sector. Ian is Independent Chair of a wide range of fisheries committees and boards, including scallop, abalone and rock lobster advisory committees in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. He is also a Commissioner of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

Independent Fishery Economist: Ms Sevaly Sen

Ms Sevaly Sen, a fisheries economist (with both economics and legal qualifications), has been involved in the industry for the last 25 years. Sevaly started her career at the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and went on to become a researcher at the London School of Economics. She then set up her own consultancy firm advising on economic and socio-economic issues in fisheries and aquaculture in Europe, Africa and Asia for diverse clients including UK fisher associations, the European Commission and the United Nations. Looking for a change after six years, she joined the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a socio-economist on their inland fisheries and aquaculture community-based management programs based in southern Africa. This then led her to Denmark where she was involved in fisheries co-management programs at the North Sea Centre's Institute of Fisheries Management.

Since moving to Australia in 1998, Sevaly became director of a specialist fisheries consultancy firm (FERM) which has advised industry associations, fishing operators, government and other stakeholders on a wide range of economic issues. She has been the economist member on three independent quota allocation panels, evaluated the effectiveness of fisheries structural adjustment programs and chaired a number of FAO workshops on stakeholder involvement and social and economic indicators. Sevaly has also co-authored a book on the practical implementation of Individual Transferable Quotas and written a plain English guide to quota management for small to medium sized fishing businesses. Sevaly now combines freelance consultancy with a part-time position at the Sydney Fish Market as a research officer on a project to evaluate responsible fisheries management certification.

Independent Fishery Manager: Ms Mary Lack

Ms Mary Lack has qualifications in agricultural and resource economics and has over 25 years' experience in Australian and international fisheries management. Mary has been the Director of Shellack Pty Ltd, a consulting company specialising in fisheries management and governance, for the past 13 years, prior to which she held senior positions in management of Commonwealth fisheries. Mary has extensive experience in the development and implementation of fisheries management arrangements.

Mary has chaired, facilitated or been a member of a numerous fisheries committees and working groups charged with addressing complex, local and regional fisheries management issues, in an environment of diverse, and often conflicting, views. She has demonstrated a capacity to synthesize economic, scientific and environmental advice in order to develop workable policy solutions to resource management issues. Mary's work in both the public and private sectors has involved working effectively with government, industry and non-government organisations.

Meetings

The Structural Adjustment Review Committee (SARC) Chair's Summaries are not produced following every meeting/discussion. The SARC only produce Chair's Summaries when providing formal feedback and advice.