Wauchope business hit by state government-imposed fishing quotas

Matt and Karen Millward own a retail outlet in Wauchope along with fishing trawlers out of Laurieton.

The couple invested $150,000 in their fishing operation but have now found the fishing quotes are having a direct impact on their operations.

In 2016 the couple met with Oxley MP Melinda Pavey and minister for primary industries Niall Blair. They discussed the state government’s commercial fisheries business adjustment program. 

That program is designed to provide fishers the ability to invest in their businesses with certainty. The politicians were on a fact-finding tour and did not provide business advice to the Millwards or any other business-owners.

At the time, Mrs Pavey said that Mr Blair was keen to hear how the reform program was progressing from the fishers' perspective.  

“Matt and Karen Millward’s feedback will help ensure the program delivers as intended,” she said at the time of the meeting.

But Mr Millward says his fishing quote – as of May 2019 – will be just 119kgs for the entire year.

“That means we get to go fishing for just one day out of 365. We wanted to build our business, so we could supply restaurants with top quality products,” he said.  

"They have not given the quota any thought, because a recreational fisher can go to sea, catch cod at 14 kgs each, 70 for the day, 365 days a year and I get to go once.

"The NSW government has not done an impact study yet, to come up with these quotas. I am not the only fisher who is affected.  We are hoping that the State government will change these quotas.  Who is going to buy our fishing business now?" he added.

A spokesman for the Office of the Minister for Primary Industries said an Independent Allocation Panel (IAP) was appointed to consult industry and develop advice on the best way to allocate the new species and effort quota shares this year. 

He said the IAP held meetings with fishers right along the NSW coast and took submission in the process of developing its advice to government.

The final shares to be allocated under the Business Adjustment Program were allocated in October according to IAP advice.

"The way allocations have been made ensures that fisheBee rs are allocated shares equivalent to their catches over the past seven years. Fishers that have caught a lot of fish have been allocated a lot of shares. Fishers that have not caught a lot of fish were not allocated a high number of shares,” said the spokesman.

“For most species moving to quota, more fish can be caught this year than in the past five years. The Department has consistently promoted the need for fishers to both contact the department to understand the process and to obtain independent advice before making investments.

“The Department is aware that some fishers have speculated and purchased fishing businesses without contacting the Department in the first instance to understand the way future allocations might occur. 

“Many other fishers did contact the Department's Hotline and did obtain independent advice to ensure they properly understood the process before investing in shares and boats,” he added.

The spokesman said assistance measures remain in place, including waiver or caps on some fees, business advice grants, low interest loans and advice from the Small Business Commissioner and other support services.

Last week, the Labor Shadow Minister for Small Business and member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison visited the Millwards at their retail outlet in Wauchope.  She said commercial fishers were having to pay more to do less, and that the NSW government don’t understand what small businesses are going through.

“They used to have the whole year; now some have only got 90 days.  The catches in those allocations are not enough to sustain them in their businesses, yet if they were recreational fishers, they could do what they want,” she said.

Ms Aitchison says that if Labor are elected, they will hold an inquiry into it.  She said when small family businesses like Wauchope Seafoods have to pay more to do less, it doesn’t make sense.

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