AGY-3637 | NSW State Fisheries

Full description

A Select Committee of Inquiry upon the Fishing Industry was appointed in 1975 and one of its major recommendations was the establishment of a separate Fisheries Department. After the election of the Wran Government in May 1976, NSW State Fisheries was removed from the responsibility of the Minister for Lands and was established as a separate Department. (1)

NSW State Fisheries was transferred to the responsibility of the Minister for Conservation and the Director of Fisheries, Dr D.D. Francois, was made a permanent head responsible directly to the Minister. (2)

The agency was responsible for protecting, developing, and regulating the fisheries of New South Wales. This included discovering and defining the location of unexploited resources, facilitating the harvest of fish stocks, and maintaining and improving fish populations through effective research and management. NSW State Fisheries also encouraged and assisted in the development of the commercial culture of fish to supplement production from natural resources, maintained a high quality environment in the fisheries, and developed and improved fisheries management techniques. (3)

In 1982, the Department consisted of three Divisions:
1) Administrative – suggested and implemented policy for the management of fisheries based on the results of scientific research; issued trout farm, scientific, aquarium, fish breeding, and explosive permits. This Division consisted of the following Sections: Operations, Oyster Lease, Licensing, Information and Extension Service;
2) Scientific – conducted research to enable the fisheries resources of New South Wales inland, estuarine and ocean waters to be effectively developed and managed. The Section’s Headquarters were located in Sydney’s CBD, and the Section was responsible for research at the Brackish Water Fish Culture Research Station at Port Stephens, and the Inland Fisheries Research Station at Narrandera;
3) Law Enforcement – ensured the effective supervision and control of the fisheries was maintained through adequate and effective law enforcement; monitored and provided information on the practical aspects of the fisheries at local levels; provided information at local levels on fisheries laws and oyster lease matters; issued certificates of net registrations at district offices; and investigated complaints of illegal fisheries activities. (4)

The Department maintained District Offices in the Northern Division, and this consisted of the following zones: Maclean, Taree, Tamworth, Newcastle, Swansea, Metropolitan, Bathurst, and Buronga; and the Southern Division, consisting of the Southern Metropolitan, Eden, Yass, and Albury Zones. (5)

On 16 March 1983, NSW State Fisheries was abolished and its branches were established as the Division of Fisheries within the Department of Agriculture. (6)

Endnotes
1. Report on Fisheries in New South Wales for the Year ended 30 June 1976, NSW Parliamentary Papers 1976-77-78, vol.6, p.741.
2. loc. cit.
3. NSW Government Directory, 3rd edn, 1982, p.76.
4. ibid., p.78.
5. ibid., pp.80-83.
6. NSW Government Gazette No.52, 25 March 1983, p.1377.