NT Gill Nets to be phased out by 2028
Following on from listening to our NT AFTA members’ concerns, AFTA invested a lot of time and money lobbying Territory politicians for the removal of the 14 barramundi gill net licenses in the Northern Territory.
The recently announced proposed reduced quotas did nothing to stop the indiscriminate bycatch and impacts on both our industry and the environment.
On February 9th, AFTA launched a direct action campaign, meeting with all NT members at their shops and then at meetings held in Darwin with both Recreational Fishing Minister Joel Bowden (ALP) and Shadow Minister Gerard Maley (CLP) to discuss the negative impacts of gill nets on fish stocks and marine life.
It was beneficial to demonstrate the benefits of the Qld Government gill net buybacks.
On June 18th, AFTA and our industry members achieved much-needed bipartisan support from both the NT Government (ALP)and Opposition (CLP) with the announced phased buyback of licenses over four years if elected.
I have appreciated the support of our AFTA Board and AFTA members in the NT in achieving this outcome in a relatively short time frame. It would be remiss of me not to recognise the contribution of the Qld Fisheries Minister, Mark Furner, for his personal representations to the NT Government on this matter.