About us

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is the Australian Government agency responsible for the efficient management and sustainable use of Commonwealth fish resources on behalf of the Australian community.

We need to ensure that fishing is conducted in a sustainable way to provide the benefits we get today, such as healthy seafood and employment, while also making sure that there will be fish around for future generations to enjoy.

AFMA manages fisheries within 200 nautical miles of the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ), on the high seas, and in some cases by agreement with the States, inshore to the low water mark.

As a general rule of thumb, AFMA looks after commercial fisheries from three nautical miles out to the extent of the AFZ. The states and the Northern Territory generally look after recreational, commercial coastal and inland fishing and aquaculture.

AFMA provides fisheries management services to Joint Authorities of the Commonwealth and State Governments, including the Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA).

AFMA is also responsible for deterring illegal fishing in the AFZ in cooperation with the other Australian Government agencies responsible for border protection through our foreign compliance functions.