Mr Mayer said the state government plans to introduce changes to the way commercial fishing operates in the waters around NSW that could exclude many current operators.

“All commercial operations buy shares in what is called ‘latent effort’, and under the proposed changes we will have dramatically increased that investment,” he said.

St Georges Basin born and bred, Mr Mayer has held a commercial fishing licence since 1988. He owns 125 shares of “latent effort”, which describes the potential but unused opportunity for fishing vessels to participate in a fishery.

“Those 125 shares, called a ‘block’, allow me to operate 200 days a year. Under the proposed changes those shares will only buy me 70 days. To get back to where I was, I would have to purchase two more blocks,” Mr Mayer said.

“I run a profitable solo owner/operator business. I make a living from it. If the changes go through I’m in strife.”

He said the changes had been postponed for now.

“I think the government is waiting for the election to be over before going ahead because they know the issue is very unpopular with people who own and work in commercial fishing operations. I’d say 98 per cent are against it.

“I know some young operators who were worried enough to go to their bank to see if they could get a loan if they needed one, and were told since buying the extra shares did not improve their assets a loan would not be approved.”

Mr Mayer said he suspected the government wants to reduce the number of commercial operators working in NSW from 1100 to 600.

“Around 83 per cent of our seafood is already imported, most of which I wouldn’t give to my dog. Local commercial fishing gives the public high quality fresh seafood.

“If the government changes go ahead, and they keep on increasing the cost to fish, then one day no one will be left in Australia who fishes commercially.”

Mr Mayer said he wanted to ask Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson why NSW Fisheries were pushing for the changes, and if they went through how much a new block of shares would cost commercial fishermen.

When the Register raised these questions with the Department of Primary Industry, a spokesperson said the “proposed changes” were part of a range of options presented to fishers as part of the consultation process of the Commercial Fisheries Reform Program.

“These options were exhibited for public comment in April and May 2014,” the spokesperson said.

“Given concerns by the industry about the impacts of some options, Minister Katrina Hodgkinson announced last year that the independent Structural Adjustment Review Committee be given more time to commission further economic advice, thoroughly review all the submissions reviewed, assess the potential impacts of the options and undertake more targeted consultation with industry.”

The spokesperson said no decisions have been made at this stage.

“The minister is now awaiting advice from the SARC.”