Eckhoff Gerrard: Aquaculture Reform Bill — Second Reading Instructions to Committee In Committee 
Eckhoff Gerrard: Aquaculture Reform Bill — Second Reading Instructions to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:622;Page:17733] 
GERRARD ECKHOFF (ACT) 
: 
 I would like to take a short call on Part 3. I am not sure I agree with Mr Heatley that clause 55 is a non-controversial clause. Clause 55(2) states that section 26ZG(2) of the Conservation Act is to be amended by repealing paragraph (c) and substituting the following paragraph: “(c) the taking holding possession sale or disposal of freshwater fish under the authority of—(i) the Fisheries Act 1983 the Marine Farming Act 1971 or any regulations made under either of those Acts;”. Well it has just occurred to me while I was sitting listening to the debate to ask the Minister for example—and I would ask him to take a call on this—where sea-run trout sit in this particular aspect. Are they freshwater fish or saltwater fish? Which category do they come under? 
If people decide that farming them is an appropriate thing to do and some sea-run trout are found in their salmon cage will the full weight of the law descend on those people? It is a perfectly reasonable question. Salmon swim up rivers. They are freshwater fish we might say but they spend a huge amount of time at sea as well. Are they freshwater fish or saltwater fish? I think those questions are perfectly fair and reasonable to ask given the fact that there is a horrendous penalty for anybody who dares to challenge the monopoly rights of Fish and Game for example. Part 3 is really all about the fact that Fish and Game does not want anybody to farm fish that have huge commercial value. Of course salmon have an enormous commercial value and they are farmed but sea-run trout are certainly not allowed to be farmed. 
I ask whether they are freshwater fish or saltwater fish for I am not sure and I do not have that knowledge. Maybe some member in the Chamber or an official knows. Indeed the Minister who is meant to know all about this bill should take a call to tell us exactly how this specific clause relating to the Conservation Act 1987 applies to sea-run trout. I see that the Minister is engaged in heavy conversation and is studiously ignoring this particular question. It is perfectly relevant. Can the Minister please explain why or how it is a silly question? It is perfectly reasonable for a marine farmer to look at farming sea-run trout in one of these aquaculture management areas. I ask why that could not or should not be done if in fact there is a first-rate market for them. 
One of the problems we have with this particular bill that this Minister totally fails to understand is that flexibility is part of this whole industry. If one particular fish species that is being farmed is not providing the commercial returns that farmers need then the marine farmers need to be able to change from that species to another species to develop a market and to make some dollars for themselves. That will possibly be outlawed shortly by this Government as well. Making money for oneself is not an acceptable process it seems to me in terms of the thinking of this particular Government so it tries to stop marine farmers from doing what I think is a perfectly sensible thing. I can only ask this Minister to give me the answer to this question of whether sea-run trout are classified as freshwater fish. It is a perfectly reasonable question and I yield my speaking slot to the Minister so that he can take a call to tell me the answer.