Australia: GPC Announces Statement on Gladstone Fishing Industry’s Compensation Claim

Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) has announced statement on the Gladstone fishing industry’s compensation claim:

“The Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) has always been keen to provide compensation to commercial fishers as required for the loss of access to fishing grounds caused by the Western Basin Dredging Project.

GPC’s estimate from fisheries data of the total annual gross revenue from the commercial seafood harvest in the Western Basin is around $350,000 to $400,000.

Compensation claims, as indicated in the media, for $20 million for that loss of access are clearly excessive.

This is especially so given the $17.5 million of fisheries enhancement and research funding being spent by GPC to counteract any impact from the Western Basin Dredging Project and to ensure any impact is contained within the Western Basin.

The issue of compensation for disease in fish is one GPC is happy to argue in any court given the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing to other environmental causes than impact from the Western Basin Dredging Project.

GPC is committed to continuing the Western Basin Development Project in strict accordance with the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments’ approvals, including the stringent environmental conditions.

GPC are responsible custodians of the harbour, having operated dredging projects in our harbour since the 1960s.

We are committed to developing a 21st Century port with care and respect for our environment, which will secure economic development and jobs for Gladstone over the next thirty years.”

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Dredging Today Staff, January 31, 2012; Image: westernbasinportdevelopment