Tropical Tuna Management Advisory Committee Meeting Outcomes

Tropical Tuna Management Advisory Committee (TTMAC) meeting was held at AFMA in Canberra on 19 and 20 March 2012.

TTMAC discussed the implications of the draft Quota Administration Policy on the Tropical Tuna Fisheries with AFMA’s policy and economics team, and submitted a final response to AFMA.

During discussions on the implementation of e-monitoring, TTMAC supported a proposed 2 per cent base level of observer coverage during the implementation phase of e-monitoring from 1 July 2012.

Representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) attended to discuss Australia’s position at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. 

Representatives from the Australian Antarctic Division also discussed recent seabird bycatch mitigation research and provided an update of the process to the review of the 2006 Threat Abatement Plan for Seabirds.

TTMAC requested the Tropical Tuna Resource Assessment Group to examine the potential impacts of proposed marine protected area in the Coral Sea on the future application of the ETBF Harvest Strategy and setting of total allowable catches.

The next TTMAC meeting will be held in September or October 2012 to consider total allowable commercial catches for the eastern and western tuna and billfish fisheries. 

For more information please contact Trent Timmiss, Senior Manager, Tuna and International Fisheries on 02 6225 5313 or email trent.timmiss@afma.gov.au.