Following industry-wide consultation, CommFish NSW has been established to provide commercial fishing stakeholders greater representation as part of the provision of independent advice, to the Minister for Agriculture & Western New South Wales on strategic and policy issues relating to the commercial fishing industry in NSW.
The advice provided will assist the Minister (and DPI Fisheries) to develop sound policies and decisions to manage the fisheries resources and ecosystems of NSW, in accordance with the objects of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 which are to ‘conserve, develop and share the fishery resources of the State for the benefit of present and future generations’.
The Council operates under a Charter (PDF, 357.83 KB) which sets out the objectives and mode of operation of the Council and the roles and responsibilities of members.
The chairperson of CommFish NSW is appointed by the Minister for Agriculture & Western New South Wales. The chairperson must be a person who, in the opinion of the Minister:
The chairperson does not have voting rights.
Under clause 290 of the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation, CommFish NSW is composed of the following members
(13 in total):
(a) For each restricted fishery, one person who:
(b) For each share management fishery, one person who:
(c) the person appointed to the Ministerial Fisheries Advisory Council as an expert in or representative of the commercial fishing industry;
(d) an Aboriginal person who is a commercial fisher; and
(e) a nominee of the Secretary of the Department of Industry(who does not have voting rights).
Mr Stuart Richey AM has been appointed to the role of Chair of CommFish NSW. Mr Richey is a Tasmanian commercial fisher, a foundation member and former Deputy Chair on the Board of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, as well as the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Mr Richey was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005 for service to the commercial fishing industry, particularly the promotion of sustainable utilisation of Australian Government managed fisheries.
Member | Fishery Represented |
---|---|
Stephen Bunney | Abalone Share Managed Fishery |
Graeme Byrnes | Estuary General Share Managed Fishery |
Steve Everson | Estuary Prawn Trawl Share Managed Fishery |
Mark Cranstone | Lobster Share Managed Fishery |
Patrick Richardson | Ocean Hauling Share Managed Fishery |
Mitchell Sanders | Ocean Trap and Line Share Managed Fishery |
Darren Ward | Ocean Trawl Share Managed Fishery |
Taylor Henderson | Inland Restricted Fishery |
Craig Shephard | Sea Urchin & Turban Shell Restricted Fishery |
John Jarvis | Southern Fish Trawl Restricted Fishery |
Raymond Saunders | Aboriginal Commercial Fishers |
Greg Finn | Ministerial Fisheries Advisory Council |
Director – Fisheries & Aquaculture Management | Nominee of the Secretary |
Undertake a correspondence submission to Commercial Fishing NSW Advisory Council.