There are five different bodies managing Tasmania's ports, wharves and jetties: TasPorts, Marine and Safety Tasmania, Crown Land Services, local councils and Parks and Wildlife. The Seafood Industry Council wants one organisation and one set of fees.
CEO Neil Stump says TasPorts should manage commercial shipping and all other facilities should come under Marine and Safety Tasmania. "The Government needs to take leadership on this." Opposition spokesman Rene Hidding agrees.
"There is one thing the Tasmanian fishing industry needs and that's for government to get out of its way while it goes about making a living," he said.
The Infrastructure Minister, David O'Byrne, says ownership and management of marine facilities is being considered as part of ongoing talks with industry. The Council has also called on TasPorts to justify a proposed 30 per cent increase in fees for fisherman using Hobart's Victoria Dock.
Tasports plans to increase home-porting fees from $1,500 a year, to $2,400. Mr Stump says fisherman need better services to justify the price increase. "It is about being able to have a berth, being able to tie up, being able to move in and out of a facility like Victoria Dock in a manner that enables them to go about their business as they need to.""It's about having water and power, having a waste transfer facilities."