Drowning in sea of fees

AUSTRALIA - Massive fee increases are crippling North East fish suppliers and the Victorian Government has refused to ease the pinch, a Murray Cod farm operator said yesterday. Brimin Lodge owner and Victorian Warm Water Aquaculture Association president Mr Simon Noble said small fish and yabbie farms were on the brink of closure, with fees eating away up to two-thirds of some operators annual earnings. He said in the past year aquaculture licences had soared between 150 and 400 per cent and farms were also being slugged Environment Protection Authority bills, audit costs and food safety fees.