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“This town was built on the fishing industry.”
Mr Van Der Neut said adding confusion to a complicated situation was the government did not know if shares would be available.
Simone Ragno says not only will changes have a devastating affect on fishing families but also local co-operatives, wholesalers, retailers, buyers of fresh seafood, transport companies, fuel companies and ice-works.
"Further and most of all the general public will suffer because fresh fish is a luxury considering NSW already imports 85 per cent of seafood, and some of that imported seafood is dangerous to our health and wellbeing.”
Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water Niall Blair claimed the current parameters for commercial fishing did not support the State's fishers and was stifling the industry from growing and reaching its full potential.
“The $90 million fishing industry is hugely important in NSW and to so many of our coastal communities; that's why we want to make sure we have a strong, sustainable industry for years to come,”Mr Blair said.
“Since becoming minister I have met with more than 200 commercial fishers up and down the NSW coast and every one of these conversations has helped shaped the program to secure the industry's future.”
Mr Van Der Neut claimed the reform would change the industry completely.
"By moving it from a sustainable cottage industry to a corporate industry, it will force small operators out to make way for the larger ones,” Mr Van Der Neut said. “Removing a viable and sustainable industry from smaller community ports to larger ones and pricing local communities out of the market for seafood.
“Knowingly or not the minister has just given huge benefits to fishers who acted on privileged information and bought thousands of shares years ago.
“The government cannot guarantee if shares would be available for active fishers.
“And besides that, since when is it good policy to turn on a hard working tax paying Aussie just because you have the power, shame on the Minister”.