What we’ve achieved

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) was established in 1991 to take responsibility for the efficient management and sustainable use of Commonwealth fish resources on behalf of the Australian community. Since then there have been some key achievements of the agency including:

The Domestic Compliance Program

The role of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is to manage Australia’s Commonwealth fisheries on behalf of the Australian community. AFMA manages Commonwealth fisheries in accordance with the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and related legislation and instruments.  Two of the primary focuses of this Act are to ensure ecologically sustainable and economically efficient Commonwealth fisheries.  To that end this Act provides a range of compliance and enforcement measures to be used by AFMA in response to breaches of fisheries management rules. Compliance and enforcement is only one element of regulatory activity that is carried out by AFMA in administering this Act. More information on the Domestic Compliance Program.

Foreign Fisheries Compliance

The northern and southern foreign compliance programs have been able to contribute to the deterrence of illegal, unregulated and unreported foreign fishing; particularly in the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) but also on the high seas.

Co-management

AFMA started a program to trial co-management in selected Commonwealth fisheries in May 2008. Trials were developed and implemented in two sectors of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) and the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) to see more productive working relationships and engagement with stakeholders. While trials are continuing, the project is now in the review phase.

Marine Bioregional Planning

AFMA provides information to the fishing industry on the Marine Bioregional Planning process as well as providing factual information to the responsible Australian Government agency. AFMA has taken an active role in the Marine Bioregional Planning process to ensure that the broader interests of Australia’s sustainable commercial fisheries are taken into consideration.

Licensing and Quota Management

In November 2009 AFMA successfully launched GOFish, its first online business facility. It provides commercial fishers the opportunity to have greater control over their quota and licences.

Environment and sustainability

Ecological Risk Assessments (ERAs) are a powerful tool for identifying fisheries management priorities to sustainably manage fishing impacts on our marine species and environments. ERAs have been conducted in all major fisheries. AFMA is now in the process of developing ecological risk management strategies to address the priority lists of each fishery.

Cost Recovery

AFMA recovers management costs from the commercial fishing industry under fisheries legislation and the Australian Government’s cost recovery policy. A Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) was developed in accordance with the Governments Cost Recovery Guidelines for regulatory agencies and certified in Februrary 2004 following consultation with stakeholders. This was reviewed in 2009.

Management Advisory Committees

Management Advisory Committees (MACs) have been established for all major fisheries to foster close working relationships with industry.

Management Plans

Management Plans have been developed for all major fisheries.

Harvest Strategies

In September 2007 the Australian Government published its Harvest Strategy Policy. The Harvest Strategy Policy articulates acceptable levels of risk to the Australian government in AFMA’s management of Commonwealth fisheries. Consistent with the policy AFMA has implemented a total of 13 harvest strategies.