Page welcomes fishing ‘rescue package’
Ballina MP Don Page has welcomed a State Government package of $130,000 over the next three months to enable the fishing industry to be involved in the monitoring of fish stocks in the Richmond River following the rivers closure to commercial and recreational fishing for an undefined period.
Mr Page said the package was in line with the requests put to the Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, yesterday by the Ballina Fisherman’s Cooperative and North Coast National MPs at a meeting with the Minister in Sydney.
“The delegation included industry representatives from the fishing, dairy, sugar cane and oil seed industries, and North Coast National MPs,” he said.
“This money is most welcome because it will allow sophisticated monitoring of fish stocks over the next three months and provide some income support for the commercial fishers who now have no income whatsoever due to the Richmond River’s closure.
“The package also includes a waiving of commercial licence fees which amounts to around $20,000.
“I commend the recreational and commercial fishers’ submission to the Minister and am pleased to have played a part in this successful outcome.
“I also thank the local DPI office for their support of the proposal.”
