With the NSW Government set to introduce minimum shareholding as part of the Commercial Fisheries Business Adjustment Program (holding a certain number of shares to be able to fish), the men fronted the inquiry on December 19 to share their point of view on the proposal. 

The legislation is to take effect in July 2017 and fishing businesses have until January 30 to apply to have their fishing business bought out by the State government or buy into the new shares system. 

This idea of creating shares is said to “provide fishers with a stronger property right and the opportunity to grow their business with greater certainty around the value of their investment”.

Like most commercial fisherman across the state, Grant and his father Ray from the Manning Valley, disagree.

Talking to the inquiry, Grant claimed the new changes will have damaging effects on his father’s business as well as the ability to provide quality seafood domestically and overseas. 

He said his father has been “crippled” by the reform and is being forced out of his business. Ray added that increased fees will destroy his ability to fish.

Ray is the son of local identity Horry Saunders who in 2000 received a NAIDOC award for holding the longest running, owned and established indigenous fishing business on the east coast of Australia. 

He feels that modernising his family business 41 years ago was a “wasted effort” when it can be destroyed by “the stroke of a pen”.

Grant was pleased his father was given an opportunity to “air his grievances” that had been plaguing him for decades.  

Grant is in the process of completing a documentary entitled ‘Teach a Man to Fish’ - a personal journey back to Taree to discover his heritage and legacy in fishing.

He says the film will follow his discovery of his identity and his connection to his Aboriginal heritage. Starting production over a decade ago, Grant hopes to have the film complete by the end of 2017.

He claims he has only “scratched the surface” to what his father has experienced in the fishing trade.