Proposed changes to rules for the scallop fishery are open for public consultation
The main proposed changes include:
| Recreational | Scallop catch sharing
Introducing scallop catch sharing was an action identified in the Recreational Sea Fishing Strategy.
| Allow the sharing of scallops amongst those who
participate in the take of scallops, and allow the take of an additional
bag limit of scallops for one licence holder on the boat who did not participate in
the take of scallops. |
Recreational
| Boat limit for the recreational scallop fishery
| Introduce
a boat limit of five times the bag limit (250 scallops).
|
Commercial dive
| Reduce the number of scallop units required to activate a licence | To reduce the number of scallops to activate a fishing
licence (scallop) for the purpose of commercial diving for scallops from
50 scallop quota units to 10. |
Commercial dive
| Prevent possession of scallops below minimum size | Commercial
divers taking scallop won't be able to utilise the 15% leeway for the
take and possession of scallops under the minimum size limit (which is
permitted when dredging for scallops). |
| Other | Possession of scallop dredge without a licence | To allow the possession of a dredge without a fishing licence(scallop) for the purposes of maintaining a navigable channel. |
You can read more about each of the proposed changes in the Scallop Rule Amendments - Public Consultation Paper and in the Draft Fisheries (Scallop) Amendment Rules.
Have your say
To Have Your Say on the proposed changes, please make a submission by email or post before 11:59pm Friday, 7 February 2025.
Information about submissions
All submissions, including the names of individual respondents, will be treated as public information, and will be made available on the Fishing Tasmania website.
The following information will not be published:
- private addresses and contact details (including mobile phone numbers)
- defamatory or offensive material
- submissions which breach any laws
- submissions that do not substantively comment on issues relevant to the consultation.
A submission may be publicly withheld when it is not in the public interest to release it, for example to protect personal and other sensitive information (including that of a commercial nature). A request can be made for all or part of a submission (including the name of the submitting person or organisation) to be publicly withheld. Reasons to withhold must accompany a request.
The Right to Information Act 2009 and confidentiality
By law, information provided to the Government may be provided to an applicant under the provisions of the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI). If you have indicated that you wish all or part of your submission to be confidential, the statement that details your reasons will be considered in determining whether to release the information in the event of an RTI application for assessed disclosure.