Ecological Risk Management

Ecological Risk Management Framework

The implementation of the ecological risk management (ERM) framework is putting AFMA well on track to realising its commitment to ecosystem based fisheries management.

The framework details a robust and transparent process to assess, analyse and respond to the ecological risks posed by Commonwealth managed fisheries.

The ERM framework progresses through a number of steps. The initial assessment stage involves the development of an ecological risk assessment (ERA) for each individual fishery. ERAs assess the impact, direct and indirect, a fishery’s activities may have on the marine ecosystem. These assessments provide the foundation for further risk assessment and analysis. While it has been a long and complex process ERAs have now been completed for all major Commonwealth fisheries.

The next stage of the assessment process involves the development of a Level 2 ERA Residual Risk assessments for each individual fishery. These assessments evaluate and refine ERA outcomes by taking into account additional information not considered through the process, in particular the mitigating effects of current management arrangements.

A number of fisheries have also undergone more comprehensive quantitative risk assessments. The results of these assessments will be incorporated with the results of the residual risk assessments and addressed through management actions where required.

The result of the risk assessment process is a priority list identifying the key species in the fishery that require management attention. For the most part, AFMA will address the risks identified through the targeted delivery of a suite of fishery management policies and tools already in place for most fisheries, including the:

1. Harvest Strategy Policy - the development of harvest strategies for target and byproduct species;
2. Bycatch and Discard Program - the development of bycatch work plans and specific actions for bycatch species;
3. Recently established Chondrichthyan Working Group - the development of specific actions for sharks and other chondrichthyans;
4. Byproduct Policy - currently being developed for non-key commercial species; and,
5. Ongoing initiatives to minimise any interactions with protected species.

Following the initial implementation of management actions, individual fisheries’ assessments and management arrangements will be periodically reviewed and evaluated to ensure that what is in place is effective and continually refined.

Consultation

AFMA’s Management Advisory Committees (MACs) and Resource Assessment Groups (RAGs) have played a crucial role in developing the ERAs and residual risk assessments. This involvement will continue as AFMA works with MACs and RAGs to take the next steps in refining and evaluating the outcomes and implementing management responses on a fishery by fishery basis. AFMA will ensure that all stakeholders are kept up-to-date with the initiatives and progress towards implementing EBFM.

Page last updated 20 August, 2008