Clarence Nationals MP, Richie Williamson, has met angry Clarence River commercial fishers amid growing frustration over the Minns Labor Government's "deafening silence" on the future of the industry following the prolonged White Spot outbreak biosecurity restrictions.
Mr Williamson said commercial fishers have been left high and dry after the NSW Minister for Agriculture and her Department of Primary Industries (DPI) decided to abandon plans to separate oceanic waters from estuaries.
The minister instead has classified White Spot as established in the Clarence and Richmond River estuaries, and amalgamated the two waterways into a single biosecurity management zone.
That's despite there being no positive detection of White Spot in either estuary.
"The implications of this decision are enormous for Clarence River fishers and their families, yet the Minister and her Department have gone completely silent," Mr Williamson said.
"The Clarence River Prawn Trawl Committee wrote to the Minister on November 20, outlining serious concerns about the decision and the completely inadequate support being offered. To this day, they have not received so much as the courtesy of a response."
Mr Williamson said the latest $4.5 million funding package announced by the NSW Labor Government was "a slap in the face" and failed to reflect the true value of commercial fishing businesses that have been rendered non-viable by government biosecurity decisions.
"This is not a voluntary exit. These fishers didn't choose to leave the industry – their livelihoods have been destroyed by a government-managed biosecurity response," he said.
"Spreading $4.5 million across around 40 fishers doesn't even come close to the real value of these businesses. Independent and accepted valuation methods place the minimum value of an estuary prawn trawl business at around $400,000."
Mr Williamson said capital assets, vessels, endorsements, gear, and infrastructure have all collapsed in value as a direct result of prolonged biosecurity restrictions, leaving families with no viable pathway forward.
"These are intergenerational, highly regulated regional businesses that have supported local jobs, food security, and coastal communities for decades. What they are being offered now forces hardship rather than allowing people to exit with dignity."
Clarence River Prawn Trawl Committee Chairman, Glenn Dawson, said industry frustration had reached breaking point.
"We wrote to the Minister and her Department setting out our concerns and asking for genuine engagement. We've heard absolutely nothing," Mr Dawson said.
"The silence has been incredibly disappointing and disrespectful. Fishers feel ignored and abandoned at a time when their businesses and futures are on the line."
Mr Williamson said fishers are not seeking windfall gains, but fair treatment.
"They are asking for independent valuations, genuine transition support and enough funding to leave the industry with dignity – not debt," he said.
"I'll be standing shoulder to shoulder with Clarence fishers, and will continue to fight for a fair, dignified outcome for this proud industry."
