Ms Hodgkinson said the MFAC, formed last year, replaced the Seafood Industry Advisory Council which ceased operating in mid-2010.
“The MFAC will provide me with insights into issues that impact across the sector, including recreational, Indigenous and commercial fisheries, as well as aquaculture and
conservation,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“It will focus on providing an industry-wide perspective relating to resource sharing and cost
recovery, as well as advice on such issues as co-management and ecosystem-based fisheries management over time.
“The establishment of such a council was recommended by the independent review the NSW Government commissioned into commercial fisheries management, after it identified a lack of cross-sector stakeholder advice being delivered to government.
“The MFAC is broadly representative of all key fishing stakeholders; including the commercial, recreational, indigenous, conservation and aquaculture.”
Mr Richard Stevens OAM was appointed as Chair of the newly formed MFAC late last year, on a three-year-term expiring 31 July 2016.
“Mr Stevens has extensive experience in this area, including co-Chairing the independent review into NSW commercial fisheries and chairing the fisheries co-management council in South Australia,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
The MFAC members include:
- Eric Bell OAM – Indigenous;
- Mark Bulley – Aquaculture;
- Graeme Byrnes – Commercial;
- James Harnwell – Recreational; and
- Dr Sally Townley – Conservation
