Commercial fishers from the sustainably accredited Northern Prawn Fishery underwent new TAFE-recognised training on best-practice fishing before the current Banana Prawn season started yesterday.
The Northern Prawn Fishery, which stretches across the top of the country from Western Australia to Queensland, recently became Australia’s first tropical prawn fishery to receive the iconic ‘blue tick’ of sustainability from the Marine Stewardship Council.
Skippers and crew in the fishery put up their hands to undertake the training course, part of a collaborative program between the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Northern Prawn Fishery Industry Pty Ltd as part of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program.
Australian Fisheries Management Authority CEO Dr James Findlay said that the training would assist fishers to reduce their bycatch and avoid protected species such as turtles.
“It’s great to see the fishers looking to improve their understanding of bycatch reduction devices and learn practical ways to limit impact on the environment”, Dr Findlay said.
Northern Prawn Fishing Industry Executive Officer, Annie Jarrett said that the fishery had built its reputation on environmental practices, delivering tasty, Australian-caught prawns to local and international consumers.
“This training initiative provides a great opportunity for our crew to continue to develop their knowledge and skills in this area, which is a great thing for us and for the Australian community”, Ms Jarrett said.
Successful graduates will receive a nationally-recognised TAFE certificate demonstrating their knowledge of sustainable fishing practices.
For more information regarding the training please contact Matt Barwick, NPFI Projects Manager on 0422 752 789, or m.barwick@npfindustry.com.au.
– taken from AFMA.