According to a report from The West Australia, Mr Moore said this afternoon that urgent talks between the State and Federal governments were a matter of priority, with fishermen preparing for the possibility of further tough restrictions for the upcoming rock lobster season.
Yesterday, Federal Fisheries Minister Tony Burke said it would consider emergency funding for WA’s embattled rock lobster industry, and would consider “exit with dignity” payments of up to $150,000 for fishermen under the Federal Exceptional Circumstances Scheme.
Exit payments are offered to farmers hit by rare climatic events, such as drought, who decide to leave the industry but the scheme does not extend to fishermen, reports The West Australia.
State Fisheries Minister Norman Moore and WA fishing industry groups wrote to Mr Burke recently, urging him to consider widening the scheme to rock lobster fishermen, who face tough restrictions in response to concerns about stock sustainability.
