MORE FUNDING

June 4, 2002: The Carr Government has delivered more funding for NSW Fisheries in this year's budget with $36.1 million allocated to better manage and protect our State's aquatic resources, the Minister for Fisheries, Eddie Obeid, said today.

Mr Obeid said this year's increased funding is the eighth consecutive budget increase provided by the Carr Government.

"This represents a 14% increase in Government funding from last year's NSW Fisheries Budget and that's good news for everyone who cares about our underwater environment," Mr Obeid said.

"The Carr Government is providing the money we need to better manage this resource which belongs to the whole community."

"These funds will help protect our State's aquatic environment and will encourage further development of our regional aquaculture industry which is growing at close to 10 per cent a year."

Mr Obeid said major features of the NSW Fisheries budget include $3 million to buy-out commercial fishers from the Jervis Bay Marine Park and $1.6m for a two-year Indigenous Fisheries Strategy.

$923,000 has been allocated for the better management of aquatic pests including the pest weed Caulerpa taxifolia.

Regional NSW will benefit from $500,000 in extra funding to encourage the development of aquaculture. This is part of the NSW Government's three-year $3m Aquaculture Initiative which is designed to encourage development and investment of this industry.

Other key allocations include:

$300,000 to continue the upgrade of the Port Stephens Fisheries Centre

$550,000 to upgrade the FINS computer system.

$290,000 to upgrade the NSW Fisheries Ballina office.

$185,000 to replace NSW Fisheries marine craft.

Mr Obeid said the upgrade of the Port Stephens Fisheries Centre is significant as it is the NSW Government's major research centre for aquaculture and has resulted in world-class abalone and oyster research.

Source: http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/newsroom/latest/fb_02jun04_funding.htm