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Strategic assessmentThe Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) submits information, on its various fisheries, to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources for assessing the ecological sustainability of management arrangements for Commonwealth fisheries. The Strategic Assessment is done under Part 10 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Also covered under the umbrella of the Strategic Assessment process are two other aspects assessed by the Minister under the EPBC Act: 1. Accreditation for the purposes of interaction with protected species (Part 13 – EPBC Act), and Inevitably, fishing has an impact upon the environment. AFMA is committed to minimising the negative environmental effects of fishing whist enabling high quality seafood to be produced. AFMA prepares Strategic Assessment documentation for each Commonwealth fishery. The strategic assessment process must be undertaken before AFMA can determine a plan of management for the fishery. Strategic Assessments are administered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and are required for all Commonwealth and Torres Strait Fisheries. In drafting the strategic assessments there are terms of reference specific to each fishery that must be adhered to. These are generated by using the information contained in the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries. The process is one of open consultation and involves all stakeholders and the general community. There are two calls for public comment. These calls are made via advertising, in the gazette and a national newspaper, and by notifying people on our register of interest. The first call for comment is for creating the terms of reference used for drafting the Strategic Assessment; the other is for the Draft Assessment Report. The process from conception through draft assessment report to accredited assessment (finalised conditions and recommendations) is an involved process. Visit our assessment process page for more information. Page last updated 3 June, 2008 |
