The report, Torres Strait Islanders – Improving their Economic Benefits from Fishing, was released today by Phillip Glyde, ABARE Executive Director, and draws on surveys of islander and nonislander fishers in the Torres Strait conducted in January and February 2007.

Survey results show that islander fishers operate a very different fishing enterprise from nonislander fishers, with islander fishers operating much smaller businesses, undertaking less processing of their catch and generally receiving a lower price per kilogram.

‘Given that islander fishers supply a less processed product, it is not surprising that they receive a lower price than nonislander fishers. However, there is more to economic performance than price,’ Mr Glyde pointed out.

A fisher’s profit also depends on their costs. ABARE’s survey indicates that in the lobster fishery, islanders were performing at least as well as nonislander fishers in terms of profit per kilogram of lobster landed.

In contrast, islanders in the finfish fishery were not performing as well financially as nonislanders, primarily because of the constraints of their remote location and the small size of their fishing operations.

‘It is generally not possible for islander fishers to operate larger businesses. Scientific evidence suggests that key stocks are already fully utilised or are uncertain. Nor would many islander fishers be able to borrow enough money for a primary boat, freezers, tenders and other equipment,’ Mr Glyde observed.

‘However there are a number of ways that fishers can improve their current business practices in order to achieve higher profits,’ said Mr Glyde.

Measures such as keeping expense receipts, improved equipment maintenance and planning for future expenses are steps that all fishers could take to improve their returns. More active islander fishers could also consider forming cooperatives to buy supplies and take advantage of other economies of scale.