Strategic assessment

The strategic assessment process

The process from conception through to the finalised conditions and recommendations for fisheries is an involved process. It allows for an open and transparent process. The process proceeds as follows:

1. Draft – according to the Terms of Reference (Agreed with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts)
2. Consultation
   1. The Environment Committee (or AFMA management) approves public comment release
   2. Put out for Public Comment accompanied by the Management Plan – at least 28 days
   3. Incorporate public comments
   4. Provide to the relevant Management Advisory Committee (MAC) or Consultative Committee (CC) for consideration / approval to go to Environment Committee (EC)
   5. EC approves the AFMA submission to be submitted to the Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (the Minister)
3. Submission for Ministers consideration
   1. The Minister seeks advice from the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)
   2. DEWHA considers the AFMA submission and provides recommendations and advice back to the Minister
   3. The Minister assesses and sends conditions and recommendations to AFMA prior to accreditation.
4. Review of Ministers recommendations
   1. AFMA submits the conditions and recommendations to the MACs or CCs for advice
   2. The EC considers advice from MACs/CCs and provides advice to the AFMA Board
   3. AFMA Board decides whether to accept or seek to modify the conditions and recommendations
   4. The Chair of the AFMA Board writes to the Minister accepting or seeking to modify the conditions and recommendations
5. Acccreditation of Management Plan
   1. In parliament, the Minister tables his intention to accredit the management plan
   2. Following the period allowing for disallowance (15 sitting days) the DEWHA Strategic Assessment Report and Recommendations are accredited by publishing a notice in the Commonwealth Gazette
   3. The DEWHA Strategic Assessment Report and Recommendations are then posted on the DEWHA website

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
2. Export approval allowing for the export of native species (Part 13A – EPBC Act)

Please note that the AFMA draft assessment report does not progress past the draft stage. This is the version submitted to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts at step 2.5.

To find out more about the Strategic Assessment process contact Paul Ryan or the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Page last updated 31 May, 2010