|
|
| MaP |
Click image to view large map
|
Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery
At a glance
Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) are external territories of Australia located in the Southern Indian Ocean about 4,000 km south-west of Perth. The islands lie within the Antarctic Convergence.
The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) is an external territory of Australia located in the Southern Indian Ocean about 4,000 km south-west of Perth. The islands lie within the Antarctic Convergence.
The HIMI Marine Reserve declared in October 2002 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) comprises the islands, the territorial sea around the islands (to 12 nautical miles) plus additional marine areas extending in parts to the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone boundary.
The Marine Reserve is closed to fishing, in accordance with the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan 2005 . The waters surrounding HIMI out to 200 nautical miles are also part of the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) which is managed by AFMA.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands are the only unmodified example of a sub-Antarctic island ecosystem in the world. They provide valuable breeding and feeding areas for many species of marine mammals and birds, while supporting a vast array of endemic invertebrates. They are included on the register of the National Estate and the World Heritage List.
More Information:
| At a glance |
| Principal species |
|
| Fishing technique |
Demersal otter board trawling & demersal longlining |
| Number of vessels |
3 |
| 2007-2008 total allowable catch |
2,500 tonnes Patagonian toothfish
220 tonnes Mackerel icefish
80 tonnes Grey rockcod
150 tonnes Unicorn icefish
120 tonnes skates & rays
360 tonnes macrourids
50 tonnes each for other deepwater species |
| Estimated Catch & Value 2006-2007 |
To maintain operator confidentiality AFMA is unable to release this information |
| Main Markets |
United States of America, Japan |
| Stock Status |
Not overfished/ No overfishing
For both target species - Patagonian toothfish and mackerel icefish
|
| Management Method |
As the islands lie to the south of the Antarctic convergence, they also fall under the jurisdiction of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
CCAMLR determines total allowable catches, which are set to protect the target fish stocks and species that depend upon them. Access to the Fishery is limited and strict operating conditions are imposed to minimise negative effects on the environment, including effects on non-target species |
| Consultative Forum |
Sub-Antarctic Fisheries Management Advisory Committee (SouthMAC) |
Page last updated
20 December, 2007
|
