AFMA 2007-08 Annual Report

26 November 2008

AFMA’s 2007-08 Annual Report was tabled in the Parliament on 25 November 2008.

To download a copy of the annual report, please see our Annual Reports page.

Highlights from the report include:

Transition to Commission
Legislation was passed to change AFMA’s governance arrangements and replace the AFMA Board with Commissioners.

Co-management
AFMA started a program to trial co-management in select Commonwealth fisheries, aiming for AFMA and industry to work together in designing and testing a shared approach to fisheries management and administration.

Multi-year total allowable catches
The capacity to set multi-year total allowable catches was incorporated into the southern bluefin tuna management plan to provide greater stability for industry and allow business owners to confidently invest in the fishing industry.

Vessel monitoring systems
Integrated vessel monitoring systems have been implemented to provide essential data on fishing patterns.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
AFMA has continued to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, both domestic and foreign.

Ministerial Direction
AFMA has implemented the Australian government’s harvest strategy policy (HSP) that was released in September 2007 in response to the Ministerial Direction to AFMA of December 2005.

Cost reduction working group
The AFMA cost reduction working group (CRWG) reported to the Board in June 2008, and the Board accepted the cost reduction working group recommendations with only minor changes.