02 NEWS
THURSDAY 27 JULY 2023 TORRES NEWS
Agriculture and fisheries Minsiters visit Zenadth Kes Freecall 1800 732 850 Email enquiries@ wakai-waian. com.au 40 Douglas St Thursday Is.
State Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner, TSRA Chairperson Napau Pedro Stephen AM and Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Murray Watt. Pic by Carli Willis.
Our very own cultural safe, Psychological and Counselling support service that delivers to youme first nations and non-indigenous people throughout “Zenadth Kes” region. The Social, emotional wellbeing bor youme in the community e responsibility and business bor youme everyone.
Torres News
@TSIMAtorresnews < Continued from P1
Your North Queensland airline connecting the islands of the Torres Strait with Cairns and Bamaga
FLY WITH A QUEENSLANDER
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Murray Watt said joint management between local authorities and state and federal government had been successful to date. “Through some of the joint work that’s been happening, the Spanish mackerel stocks have increased over the last few years because of conservation measures that were taken,” he said. He said joint management and conservation efforts had recently led to the re-opening of a short season of fishing for sea cucumbers and black teatfish for the first time in decades. “So by really cooperating on these sorts of issues, we can make sure that we have a long term fisheries industry, which as Pedro says is really the farm of the Torres Strait for a long time to come,” Minister Watt said. State Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said other items discussed were illegal fishing and cost of living pressures impacting the industry. He said setting up joint operation centres had been a focus of governments, bringing together Queensland Fisheries, Border Protection, Navy, Queensland Police and other stakeholders. “Those sorts of practices will continue into the future to make sure we support the area but support that sustainability of our fishery sector,” he said. Mr Stephen said such a facility would
help remote island communities to better trust their authorities. He said a joint facility could also assist in better keeping illegal fishing under control. “It’s been the aspiration of the people on-ground and the leadership in the Torres Strait to actually have a facility where community can see that everyone’s working together,” he said. “They think everybody works in silos.” During the visit Minister Furner also announced a new special fisheries working group was to be established in Cape York to provide advice to government and inform decisions on the management of fisheries and implementation of the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy: 2017–2027. Members of the inaugural Cape York Special Fisheries Working Group, made up of ten representatives from Cape York First Nations communities, community development, fishing industry, Local Government, Non-Government Organisations and private enterprise, included Brendon Wymarra (NPA), David Clarke (Lockhart River), Frank Proctor (Wuthathi/NPA) and Jack Jans (Mapoon). Local MP Cynthia Lui said fishing was an integral part of life on the Cape York, providing sustenance and income to many communities. “Maximising the value of our worldrenowned Cape fisheries in a sustainable way is crucial, and that’s what this working group will help to deliver,” she said.
