With experienced skippers moving onto mining jobs or skippering tug boats, the northern zone of South Australia is being left with a shortage of workers.
According to local fishermen, cuts to quotas are one of the main reasons for this shortage. “We’ve had, you know, skippers from 20 years ago, and because the input is not there from the catching with the quota now it’s not worth them out there,” commented Trent Gregory, industry association directory, as quoted by ABC.
For SA Fisheries Minister Paul Caica, the situation is problematic but the quotas cannot be changed. “The quota would only ever be increased after we have clear evidence that a (sic) increase in the quota can be sustained within that fishery. This is about protecting that fishery going forward.”
