Page 3438 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 September 2019
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accompany this are a really important part of having a sustainable aquaculture practice and avoiding some of the potentially negative consequences that can arise from aquaculture.
I am supportive of the new offences in this bill, such as the new offences to protect habitat, especially that of threatened species, and the offences related to commercial fishing.
I also particularly note the change in this bill to the Nature Conservation Act related to cultural resource use by Aboriginal people. The bill will allow the Conservator of Flora and Fauna to develop plans, in partnership with the traditional custodians, that will allow for Aboriginal cultural activity, particularly in reserves. I understand that this was developed with, and has the support of, the local Indigenous community. On that basis the Greens are pleased to support that amendment.
In conclusion, this bill makes a range of positive amendments, and we are happy to support it today.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Manager of Government Business, Minister for Advanced Technology and Space Industries, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (11.19), in reply: Mr Assistant Speaker Pettersson, welcome to the chair. I am pleased to close the debate on the Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2019, and thank my colleagues in this place for their contributions.
The bill has come about because of the hard work of staff within my directorate. I want to thank them for their diligence and dedication to improving our environment and enhancing conservation. We are truly gifted with wonderful experts, and it is a pleasure to work with them and be guided by their expertise.
The review of the Fisheries Act identified the need to update the legislation, to modernise existing provisions to improve compliance and enforcement, to provide additional protection to native species and aquatic habitats, and to add important aspects like the facilitation of cultural resource use for the Aboriginal community.
Recreational fishing is a popular activity in the ACT, with our readily accessible rivers and the urban lakes and ponds providing many opportunities for fishing. During the review we heard from the ACT recreational fishing community about the things that were important to them. They told us that the issue of most concern was the maintenance of viable recreational fisheries in our rivers and lakes through the conservation of native fish and their habitat, and they identified a need for improved enforcement of fishing rules. They want fishing in the ACT to be an activity that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
The bill amends the Fisheries Act 2000, the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005. The amendments modernise the Fisheries Act to address contemporary issues in fisheries management in the ACT and to facilitate both recreational and cultural fishing by Aboriginal people. It improves trade in live
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