Small Pelagic Fishery

Management of the Fishery

On 30 November 2001 the AFMA Board approved a new Management Policy for the Commonwealth Small Pelagics Fishery (previously known as the Jack Mackerel Fishery). These new management arrangements apply to Zones B, C, and D of the Fishery and came into force from 1 March 2002.

Whilst a small fishery in terms of its value of production, the small schooling pelagic species targeted in the Commonwealth Small Pelagics Fishery (SPF) are recognised as an important component of Australia's temperate marine ecosystem. They are an important food source for a wide range of higher level predators, including the tuna and billfish caught in Australia's valuable recreational and commercial fisheries.

In recognising the importance of these species to a range of stakeholder groups, and the limited scientific information available on their stock structure and abundance, AFMA is committed to a precautionary management framework for this important fishery. The Management Policy has been in use since 2002.

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Growing interest in the fishery in recent time has triggered further consideration of management and the capacity of the management policy to endure over time. AFMA issued an investment warning in the fishery on 6 July 2004 and declared that catch taken, or investment in the fishery beyond this date, would not be taken into account in any allocation of access rights in the fishery. In September 2004, to ensure rational and sustainable development of the fishery, AFMA introduced a policy to freeze boat nominations to fishing permits. This policy will remain in place until the Board receives advice from an Independent Allocation Advisory Panel (IAAP) on the allocation of Statutory Fishing Rights (SFRs) in the fishery.

Following consideration of an AFMA discussion paper on future management (PDF 71kb) the SPFWG recommended AFMA develop a statutory management plan and grant SFRs based on Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) for the target species. The AFMA Board agreed to this, and the establishment of an IAAP to provide advice on the allocation of SFRs. It is expected the IAAP will conduct consultation with permit holders on allocation issues in early 2005. AFMA Management will also commence consultation on the development of the statutory management plan in early 2005.

Page last updated 7 December, 2007