The Inland Fisheries Service has wide statutory powers under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 to regulate, manage and protect freshwater fish and improve fisheries in inland waters.
The responsible Minister is the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Hon Sarah Courtney MP, and the supporting agency is the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
The IFS manages Tasmania’s inland fisheries for the benefit of anglers and the Tasmanian community. This requires management of:
· Tasmanian inland recreational fisheries;
· inland commercial fisheries and associated aquaculture industries; and
· conservation of native fish and control of pest fish.
This chapter provides the IFS’s financial information for 2018-19 and over the Forward Estimates period (2019-20 to 2021-22). Further information on the IFS is provided at www.ifs.tas.gov.au.
A range of initiatives will support participation and growth in Tasmania’s trout fishery. The initiatives include:
· Anglers access program - The Government is providing $200 000, from 2019-20 to 2021-22, to expand the IFS’s Anglers access program across priority lakes and rivers in the North West, North East, and Derwent Catchment in partnership with Anglers Alliance Tasmania and local angling clubs;
· Cheaper to go trout fishing - The Government is providing $300 000 to freeze inland trout fishing licences at 2017-18 prices over the next four years. This initiative will make it cheaper to go trout fishing. The funding provided will fully offset the revenue the Inland Fisheries Service would have otherwise received; and
· Upgrading Amenities at High Visitation Trout Waters - The Government is providing $300 000, over two years, for the IFS, in collaboration with Anglers Alliance Tasmania and local authorities, to build and upgrade existing and new community amenities to support high-visitation fishing locations with a focus on potential World Fly Fishing Championship 2019 venues.
The above initiatives are complemented by a number of other initiatives to be delivered by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
Table 22.1: Statement of Comprehensive Income1
|
Notes:
1. Authority estimates do not include the indexation impact of any variations to Authority expenditure that have been made since the finalisation of the Revised Estimates Report 2017-18 (including December Quarterly Report). For further information see chapter 1 of this Budget Paper.
2. The variation in Grants across the Budget and Forward Estimates reflects additional funding for a range of ‘Growing our world‑class inland fisheries’ initiatives.
3. The decrease in Employee benefits in 2019-20 reflects a reduction in salaries due to the cessation of fixed-term staff within the Carp Management Program, in 2018-19, and the refocusing of effort as the expected carp eradication nears achievement.
4. The variation in Supplies and consumables across the Budget and Forward Estimates reflects the refocusing of effort as the expected carp eradication nears achievement and the timing of ‘Growing our world-class inland fisheries’ initiatives expenditure.
5. The movements in Changes in physical asset revaluation reserve relate to the revaluation of property in line with the Valuer‑General’s revaluation cycle.
Table 22.2: Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
1. The variations in this item in 2019 reflects revised estimates based on 30 June 2017 actuals.
2. The decrease in Employee benefits in 2020 reflects a reduction in salaries due to the cessation of fixed-term staff within the Carp Management Program and the refocusing of effort as the expected carp eradication nears achievement.
Table 22.3: Statement of Cash Flows
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
1. The variation in Grants across the Budget and Forward Estimates reflects additional funding for a range of ‘Growing our world‑class inland fisheries’ initiatives.
2. The decrease in Employee benefits in 2019-20 reflects a reduction in salaries due to the cessation of fixed-term staff within the Carp Management Program, in 2018-19, and the refocusing of effort as the expected carp eradication nears achievement.
3. The variation in Supplies and consumables across the Budget and Forward Estimates reflects the refocusing of effort as the expected carp eradication nears achievement and the timing of ‘Growing our world‑class inland fisheries’ initiatives expenditure.
4. Payments for acquisition of non-financial assets in 2018-19 and 2019-20 reflects the capital expenditure associated with the implementation of ‘Growing our world‑class inland fisheries’ initiatives.