Fisheries Minister Norman Moore has expressed disappointment at the Federal Government’s decision not to provide any financial assistance to rock lobster fishers as the industry adjusts to a record low puerulus count.

Mr Moore said the industry was facing exceptional circumstances similar to those that farmers face in a long drought and it was the Federal Government’s responsibility to provide assistance.

“As a result of three years of low puerulus counts, the Liberal-National Government had to make the responsible decision to halve the Western Australian rock lobster catches over the next three years to ensure the industry remained sustainable into the future,” he said.

“Unfortunately there will be financial impacts on fishers in the short term and the Commonwealth should step in and provide exceptional circumstances financial support to those in need.”

The Minister said the Federal Government’s only response to the situation was a demand to take over running the WA rock lobster fishery rather than helping the fishers cope.

“I’m not sure what management role the Commonwealth is proposing when we have already announced the management plan for the next three years,” he said.

“Maybe they want to duplicate the existing State fisheries department complete with boats and fisheries officers, but that isn’t going to be of any benefit to fishers.”

Mr Moore said exceptional assistance funding in the farm sector had never been dependent on any increase in the Commonwealth’s role in managing the agricultural sector.

“The Commonwealth has benefited from all the taxes that have been paid by this industry so it is quite appropriate that they take financial responsibility for helping these fishers in these exceptional circumstances,” the Minister said.

“As the State Government is not in a financial situation to assist individual fishers we will continue to invest in research along with implementing a long term management strategy that will allow fishers to plan ahead in the knowledge that the fishery will be sustainably managed into the future.”