Tin Can Bay Added To TED Workshop Program
26 March, 2004

Tin Can Bay has been added to the list of ports that will host one of 10 workshops in April and May as part of continuing efforts to re-open the lucrative United States market to local wild-caught prawns.

The US stopped importing prawns from fisheries not using Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in 1996, effectively barring Queensland exports.

The workshops are a joint effort between the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Queensland Seafood Industry Association, Ecofish, Independent Trawlers' Association and Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association.

Two fishing gear specialists from the US will also attend the workshops to provide expert advice.

Queensland Fisheries Service fisheries resource manager Brigid Kerrigan said the Tin Can Bay workshop had been added following a request from industry.

"There has been a lot of support and interest from commercial operators throughout the State," she said.

"Everyone is keen to work with the State and Commonwealth Governments to reopen access to the lucrative US market which is worth more than $3 billion a year and is still very attractive to the State's prawn industry."

Dr Kerrigan said after extensive industry consultation, TEDs were now compulsory on all trawlers in Queensland, bringing the industry in line with US requirements and ensuring it met environmental sustainability standards.

Queensland recently hosted officials from the US National Marine Fisheries Service who inspected the State managed east coast trawl fishery and the joint Commonwealth-State managed Torres Strait fishery.

The assessment is essential to ensure Queensland fisheries can again export to the US which has taken over from Japan as the world's biggest prawn importer.

A decision on the reopening of the US market to Queensland wild caught prawns is expected later this year.

The workshops will be held at the following centres:

• Mooloolaba, Mooloolaba Yacht Club, 9am to 12 noon, 22 April;
• Southport, Southport Yacht Club, 9am to 12 noon, 23 April;
• Scarborough, Morgan Seafood's Function Room, 9am to 12 noon, 24 April;
• Tin Can Bay Port, 1pm to 4pm, April 25;
• Bundaberg, East Bundaberg Sports Club, 1pm to 5pm, 26 April;
• Gladstone, Gladstone Reef Hotel, 9am to 12 noon, 27 April;
• Mackay, Mackay Reef Fish Supplies, 9am to 12 noon, 29 April;
• Bowen, Bowen Air Sea Rescue Hall, 9am to 12 noon, 30 April;
• Townsville, Ross River Marina, 9am to 12 noon, 1 May;
• Cairns, GNM Chanderly (Portsmith), 9am to 12 noon, 2 May.

For more information contact Dr Brigid Kerrigan on 3225 1842 or e-mail brigid.kerrigan@dpi.qld.gov.au

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: Brigid Kerrigan (07) 3225 1842
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

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