Outcomes from CCAMLR

The 28th meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was held from 26 October to 6 November 2009 in Hobart, Tasmania. Australia is one of 25 member countries which attended the meeting.

CCAMLR is responsible for the conservation and management of marine living resources (excluding whales and seals) in its Convention Area (Southern Ocean) and aims to balance conservation and rational use of these resources.

CCAMLR agreed to catch limits for the 2009/10 season for the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery which falls within the CCAMLR Convention Area. The catch limits were 2550 tonnes for Patagonian toothfish and 1658 tonnes for mackerel icefish, the two target species in the Fishery.

Other outcomes from the CCAMLR meeting included:

• for the first time, the krill fishery will have a systematic observer scheme

• trigger levels were set to more evenly distribute krill catch in Statistical Area 48

• a Marine Protected Area of 90,000 square kilometres was established near the South Orkney Islands

• enhanced reporting requirements for port inspections

• amendments to the Catch Documentation Scheme for toothfish that require all Dissostichus catch documents (DCD) to be completed and transmitted electronically.

For further information, please contact Denis Snowdon on (02) 6225 5407 or denis.snowdon@afma.gov.au.

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Update on AFMA’s Quota Management Policy Project

AFMA is reviewing its Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) management arrangements with its Quota Management Policy Project.

The aim of the project is to develop a set of ‘best practise quota rules’ to underpin the use of ITQs in Commonwealth fisheries, and forms part of AFMA’s broader process of regulatory reform.

At its meeting on 30 October 2009, the AFMA Commission established a set of administrative principles to assist in the development of the project’s recommendations.

The Commission agreed that the project should focus on arrangements that:

• are simple and consistent across all quota managed fisheries;

• provide for all catches of quota species including discards, to be accounted for against individual quota holdings;

• do not encourage fishing without proper authorisation; and

• do not distort the operation of the quota market.

In consultation with industry and other interested stakeholders, AFMA will now develop quota management options consistent with these principles.  Draft management options will be released for comment in early 2010, and AFMA is aiming to provide advice to the Commission on preferred options by June 2010.

For more information, please contact Selina Stoute, Manager Fisheries Policy, on (02) 6225 5304 or selina.stoute@afma.gov.au.

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Bycatch Reduction Device trials

AFMA, through its Bycatch and Discard Program, has conducted a number of Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) trials during the 2009 Tiger Prawn season in the Northern Prawn Fishery.

As is the nature of trialling, not all devices performed as expected, but preliminary data indicates that the Witch-Hat device (pictured) performed beyond expectations.

Reports for all trials will be available in March 2010. 

AFMA would like to acknowledge NPF Industry Pty Ltd, the vessel owners A. Raptis & Sons, Austral Fisheries and Mr Ron Earle, and crews for their contributions to the trials.

For more information, please contact Mike Gerner, Senior Environment Officer, on (02) 6225 5379 or mike.gerner@afma.gov.au.

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GOFish update

AFMA's new online service, GOFish, has been receiving a good response since the service was launched at the end of September 2009.

Training sessions with concession holders were held in key ports during October and November to demonstrate how to complete transactions online, and to answer any questions about the service.

During 2010, AFMA will look at adding more functionality to GOFish and reduce overall Licensing costs to Fishers by introducing a ‘user pays’ system.

Concession holders should note that the after hours support line for GOFish will be drawing to a close at the end of January 2010. The support service was in place to assist users during the transition period.

From 4 January 2010, AFMA will no longer be receiving GOFish support calls on weekends between 10am and 10pm. From Friday 29 January 2010, there will be no after hours support.

If you experience issues using or logging into the GOFish online system, industry can continue to contact AFMA Licensing on licensing@afma.gov.au or 1300 723 621, Monday to Friday between 8.00am and 5.00pm.

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Continuing the success of VMS

AFMA is pleased to report that the majority of concession holders are complying with their Integrated Computer Vessel Monitoring System (ICVMS) conditions and have approved and operational ICVMS on their vessels.

ICVMS continues to be a very important management tool and AFMA appreciates the level of cooperation shown by those complying with the conditions of their fishing concessions.

As a courtesy, AFMA wishes to remind concession holders that all vessels nominated to Commonwealth concessions must be either fitted with an approved and operational ICVMS or have entered into a temporary arrangement with AFMA to switch the unit off while in port for extended periods.

Operators with both Commonwealth and State concessions are further reminded that their ICVMS must be operating at all times, regardless of whether they are fishing in State or Commonwealth waters

To apply for a temporary switch off arrangement (TSO), or to discuss your ICVMS options, please contact
1300 723 621.

Please be aware that while on a TSO arrangement, the vessel must not move from its mooring without approval from AFMA and an operational ICVMS. Concession holders who continue to disregard the conditions of their Commonwealth concessions are at risk of facing compliance action that could include having their concessions suspended.

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Other fishery updates

CORAL SEA FISHERY (CSF)

Wildlife Trade Operation accreditation
The Coral Sea Fishery’s Wildlife Trade Operation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 has been extended until 19 May 2010 to allow the Minister for the Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts sufficient time to adequately assess the fishery.

For more information, please contact Josh Davis on (02) 6225 5339 or josh.davis@afma.gov.au.

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT TRAWL FISHERY (GABTF)

Great Australian Bight Resource Assessment Group (GABRAG)
GABRAG met in Adelaide on 26-27 November 2009. At this meeting, GABRAG reviewed the full stock assessment for Bight Redfish and updated the stock assessment for Deepwater Flathead. GABRAG also finalised its Recommended Biological Catch (RBC) advice for both species for the 2010/11 fishing year.

For further information on the GABRAG meeting, contact Timothy Emery, GABRAG Executive Officer, on
(02) 6225 5368 or timothy.emery@afma.gov.au.

SMALL PELAGIC FISHERY (SPF)

SPF Management Plan
The Small Pelagic Fishery Management Plan was determined on 2 November 2009 and is now under consideration by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

For more information, please contact Phil Domaschenz, Manager Small Pelagic Fishery, on (02) 6225 5410 or phil.domaschenz@afma.gov.au.

SUB-ANTARCTIC FISHERIES

Sub-Antarctic Resource Assessment Group (SARAG) and Sub-Antarctic Fisheries MAC (SouthMAC)
SARAG and SouthMAC met in Hobart on 23 November 2009 and 25 November 2009 respectively.  The major items discussed included:

• a report on the outcomes of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) XXVIII meeting held in Hobart from 2 to 6 November 2009;

• the catch limits and applicable CCAMLR Conservation Measures for the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery for the 2009/10 season;

• progress on the development of the integrated stock assessment and harvest strategies for the Macquarie Island Tooth Fishery; and

• the draft Ecological Risk Management (ERM) reports for the four Antarctic sub-fisheries.

For more information, please contact Peter Neave, Manager Southern Fisheries, on (02) 6225 5302 or peter.neave@afma.gov.au.

TORRES STRAIT FISHERIES

Torres Strait Prawn Management Advisory Committee (TSPMAC)
The TSPMAC will hold its final meeting for 2009 in Cairns on 8-9 December. Discussion items include the observer program, compliance activities, future funding for research, external leasing, ghost nets, marine debris and the development of the Harvest Strategy.

Anyone seeking more information and/or wishing to attend the meeting as observers should contact Lisa Cocking, TSPMAC Executive Officer, on (02) 6225 5451 or lisa.cocking@afma.gov.au.  

 WESTERN TUNA AND BILLFISH FISHERY (WTBF)

Export approval
The Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery has been granted continued export approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) until 1 December 2014.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Zunic on (02) 6225 5394 or yvonne.zunic@afma.gov.au.

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