# FISHERIES COST RECOVERY STANDING COMMITTEE

#### 1) Welcome and introductions

The Secretariat welcomed members to the meeting.

- 2) Election of Chair

The members present elected Johnathon Davey as chair for the meeting

#### 3) Apologies and Guests:

Belinda Wilson, Sonia Talman and Narelle Hardiman were apologies to the meeting. Philippa Sullivan acted as proxy for Dr Talman as a VFA representative to enable the meeting to reach a quorum. FCRSC noted that Ed Meggitt has tended his resignation from the committee as of 11 October 2018.

4) Acceptance of Agenda BACKGROUND: The Secretariat asked for any additions to the agenda. OUTCOME: The Secretariat asked for any additions to the agenda.

1. A future meeting where the committee could discuss cost recovery with representatives from another state would be valuable. 2. FCRSC would like to see Minutes and correspondence from meeting #48.

- 3. FCRSC agreed not to circulate the register of interests for this meeting due to printing issues.

4. Industry raised the matter of cost recovery for input into seismic testing projects as a continuing issue, noting that the size of some proposed projects will be significantly larger than previously dealt with.

- 5. FCRSC noted that observance of meeting dates was critical to the very important role it performs.

#### ACTIONS:

1. The Secretariat to circulate correspondence and FCRSC#48 Minutes with the Minutes from FCRSC#49. 2. SIV to forward information to the VFA on workshops being run by DIIS.

- 3.The Secretariat to investigate the option of teleconference with interstate government representatives on cost recovery at a future meeting.

#### 5) Items for discussion/noting

#### 5(a) Offsets, waivers and costing base for 2019-20 BACKGROUND:

The 2019-20 levies will be amended in Regulation ahead of the licensing year. As in previous years, the levies will be reviewed for several factors including licence numbers, services to be delivered and not delivered, and revised base FTE costs. The levies are also adjusted for waivers in 2019-20 and offsets from 2017-18. A summary of changes was provided to FCRSC with proposed adjustments. The committee was also asked to identify any further changes that were not included in the summary.

#### OUTCOME:

1. FCRSC noted that SIV would be seeking to discuss service schedules with VFA staff in the following week to discern any changes to services. 2. Industry raised the recognition of community good in Sea Urchin harvesting and the difference in approach between states.

#### ACTIONS:

1. The VFA to provide a discussion paper on the Sea Urchin licence class in Victoria and other states and considering the price for sale and common benefits of commercial harvesting, including the benefits removal of Urchins provides other fisheries. The Sec will include the issue in the letter to the Minister. 2. The Sec to provide a summary of FTE base costs over the previous five years. 3. The VFA to provide an estimated range for tenders for the abalone and rock lobster research services in 2019-20 based on past costs and to allow an appropriate, prospective ‘maximum levy’ to be set with confidence. 4. SIV to identify workplan activities and anticipated costs for VFA research staff as an agenda item at the upcoming RLRAG meeting.

- 5. The Sec to email the 2017-18 final report to committee members.

#### 5(b) Update on service schedules BACKGROUND: