Media Releases

Fishing boats ordered to port for not following seabird rules

Four South East Trawl vessels have been caught out not using mandatory devices to prevent seabirds becoming caught, injured or killed in fishing gear.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has expressed its disappointment with these results following a recent aerial surveillance operation offVictoriaandTasmaniato ensure compliance with seabird rules.

Under the rules introduced last year, trawlers must use devices to protect seabirds while trawl gear is in use. 

A recent survey by Oceanwatch, commissioned by the South East Trawl Industry Association and supported by AFMA, showed over 90 per cent of operators are aware of these requirements.

However, the first surveillance operation detected a number of fishers not using the necessary devices and as a result AFMA issued two fishers with official warnings. 

AFMA then contacted fishing operators by mail, SMS messages and through AFMA’s vessel monitoring system warning that any further non-compliance would be dealt with more harshly. 

Despite the reminders, later aerial surveillance operations detected a further two operators not complying with the seabird management arrangements.  Both vessels were ordered to port and investigations are continuing.

Peter Venslovas, AFMA General Manager Operations said that use of the seabird mitigation devices is a mandatory component of seabird management plans, which were developed and agreed upon with each fishing vessel operator.

“It is disappointing to see the level of non-compliance particularly when AFMA and the fishing industry association have worked so hard to get these measures in place,” Mr Venslovas said.

“AFMA takes these issues very seriously and will be taking strong action against any operators found to be non-compliant with the terms of their seabird management plans”.

Since the plans were introduced AFMA has been working with owners and operators to develop a range of measures that reduce fishing impact on seabirds.

AFMA will continue to monitor fishing activity in areas where trawl boats operate.

Any fishing operator suspected of not complying with seabird rules will be subject to strict compliance action which could include an immediate order to return to port, investigation and possible prosecution.

Media Releases

Fishing crew found guilty of seabird shootings

 An investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has led to seven fishermen being convicted in the Port Lincoln Magistrate Court today for criminal breaches associated with the illegal fishing of Southern Bluefin Tuna, the shooting of protected seabirds and littering at sea.

The men, crew members aboard two commercial Southern Bluefin Tuna tow boats, were convicted and ordered to pay fines totalling $22,000.

 The magistrate indicated that the matters were very serious and that deterring these actions is paramount for the ongoing preservation and sustainability of our fisheries.

 AFMA investigated the matters after the actions of crew members were detected on footage from video and other electronic recordings. The footage was seized by AFMA officers during a routine at-sea inspection of Southern Bluefin Tuna boats.

 AFMA CEO Dr James Findlay said that the actions of the crew members were completely unacceptable; however this appeared to be an isolated incident in an industry that is highly professional and well regarded in Australia and abroad.

 “These individuals obviously had no regard for the environment and the management of the fishery – actions like this undermine the sustainability of the fishery and bring the industry into disrepute,” Dr Findlay said.

 “We are very pleased that their actions have now been dealt with by the courts and they have been penalised appropriately.”

 Dr Findlay said the convictions showed AFMA’s compliance and monitoring arrangements are effective and working well, however, as always, there would be a review of existing procedures to identify possible opportunities for improvement following the court outcomes.

For any media related enquiries please contact Sophie Dening, Media and Communications Manager on 02 6225 5541 or sophie.dening@afma.gov.au.

Media Releases

Changes to fisheries legislation cuts red tape for Commonwealth fishers

Media Releases

AFMA Commission decision on SBT

AFMA Commission Chairman, the Honourable Michael Egan today announced the decision of the AFMA Commission for the 2009-2011 arrangements for the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT). The Commission has set a two year TAC of 8030 tonnes, with no more than 5265 tonnes to be taken in the first year.

In reaching its decision, the AFMA Commission welcomed the decisions and outcomes from the international fisheries management organisation, the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), and believes the CCSBT decisions this year will contribute to the stabilisation and rebuilding of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) stock to an agreed interim target level.

The Commission noted its support for CCSBT’s commitment to develop harvest strategies and decision rules which will see SBT stocks return to long term sustainable levels.

In setting the Total Allowable Catch for the Australian SBT Fishery of 8030 tonnes over two years, the AFMA Commission recognised that the reduction in TAC comes at a time when planning for the 09/10 Australian SBT fishing season is well advanced and as such the setting of a two year TAC will provide flexibility for individual business to adjust their fishing arrangements. These arrangements are reflective of requests from industry for flexibility particularly for the coming season and remain consistent with the framework of the CCSBT agreement.

“AFMA will continue to work closely with industry to implement the new arrangements as quickly as possible” said Chairman Egan.

Statement ends/2 November 2009

Media Releases

Finfish licence buyout in Torres Strait

Media Releases

System maintenance: Quotaview

Quotaview will be down from 27 November to 1 December 2008 for system maintenance.

If you wish to conduct licensing business please call or email us and we will help you with your transaction.

Media Releases

AFMA 2007-08 Annual Report

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.

Media Releases

E-logs schema released

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority has released its e-logs software schemas and supportive documentation to software developers and the general public.

The schemas are now available from the e-logs page of the AFMA website.

AFMA’s approach with electronic logbooks is to make publicly available the data transfer specification for electronic logbook reporting.

Software developers can then develop an electronic logbook product for capturing and returning logbook data to Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). AFMA will accept electronic logbook reports provided the data AFMA received meets published specifications.

Software developers wishing to develop an electronic logbook returns system must provide their software to AFMA for accreditation, a process to ensure that the software will send electronic logbook reports which meet the AFMA specifications.

Developers must register with AFMA prior to lodging software for accreditation.  AFMA is currently developing a series of test scenarios which a software product must pass to be certified before AFMA will accept electronic logbook reports from these software products.

For more information, please contact AFMA’s e-logs project officers: elogs@afma.gov.au

Media Releases

Northern Prawn Fishery season opens

News from the north by Annie Jarrett, Executive Officer, NORMAC

The 2008 tiger prawn season opened on 1 August. Even with the reduced fleet size of 52 boats, NPF operators will need a very productive season to offset the rapid rise in fuel costs which is impacting severely on the fishing industry in general. Fuel now represents over half the operational costs in the NPF.

The majority of the NPF fleet installed electronic log books before the beginning of the tiger prawn season. As a result of the industry/ NORMAC decision to move to a fishery wide e-log system, 44 of the 52 trawlers installed e-logs.

All skippers were trained to use the e-log program by staff from CatchLog Trading Pty Ltd and additional at-sea support will be provided over the next couple of months to ensure the system is working properly. E-logs are expected to provide a more cost effective and efficient mechanism for collecting fishery data and will facilitate in-season management of the fishery.

The NPF featured as a shining example of how prawn trawl fisheries can be sustainable when managed in an eco-system based framework at a WWF forum on shrimp fishing which took place in Darwin in July. A highlight for the international attendees at the workshop was a field trip to look at an NPF trawler, including TEDS, BRDs, trawl gear and e-logs.

NPF industry is working with AFMA and NORMAC representatives to develop the framework for the trial of co-management in the NPF over the next three years. The Commission will consider the details of the NPF co-management approach at its August meeting.

Media Releases

Industry and Government working for our fishing future

A 12 month trial of new fisheries management and administrative arrangements is being held at Lakes Entrance, the largest source of supply of fresh fish to the Melbourne Wholesale Fish Market.

The aim of the trial is for AFMA and industry to work together in designing and testing a shared approach to fisheries management and administration.  Co-management involves more decision making and greater responsibility for the fishing industry and more innovation and flexibility from AFMA.

Glenn Hurry, Managing Director of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) said that the trial at Lakes Entrance will run from 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2009.

‘This trial is an exciting opportunity for AFMA and the fishers at Lakes Entrance to show other parts of industry that by working together we can enjoy a sustainable fishing future’.

‘The trial gives us an opportunity to simplify regulation and business practices and improve the relationship between AFMA and industry’, said Glenn.

Any Commonwealth endorsed fishers in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, who operate from Lakes Entrance can take part in the trial.

A briefing session at Lakes Entrance was held on 1 May 2008 which provided details of the trial. The trial was officially started by Peter Clarke, Chairman of the Lakes Entrance Fishermen’s Co-operative Society and Paul Murphy, AFMA’s Operations General Manager. A host of other fishers who are taking part in the trial were also present including Ted Jones from the Lakes Entrance Danish Seine Unit Trust.

Co-management of Commonwealth fisheries is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government.

Statement ends/1 May 2008
Contact: Nigel Catchlove, Communications, Mobile: 0407 180 170