Fisheries Management Papers

Paper 4 - Method of measuring fishing vessels

Contents

1. Purpose
2. Introduction
3. Methods of measurement
4. AFMA'S approach

1. Purpose

This Fisheries Management Paper sets out AFMA's policy (as determined by the AFMA Board) for the uniform measuring of fishing vessels across fisheries managed by AFMA.

2. Introduction

The need for this policy arises from the fact that the methods used by international, State and Commonwealth marine authorities for measuring fishing vessels are not consistent and therefore create difficulties when used for management purposes. Given that fishing vessels are often multi-licensed there is a need for a consistent approach. While AFMA cannot determine the method of measurement used by international and State authorities, it can ensure the uniform measurement of vessels across the fisheries for which it has management responsibility.

3. Methods of measurement

3.1 Lloyds standard

The means of measuring fishing vessels varies considerably. A commonly used method is the Lloyd's standard or the length between perpendiculars. In simple terms this is a measurement taken from a vertical line at the bow extending to the rudder post. This method was suitable when vessels had their rudders at the stern but in modern vessels the rudders are generally placed before the stern and could be metres from that point.

3.2 Waterline length

Waterline length is another method of measurement but this does not take account of raked stem posts, flared bows, overhanging decks, countered sterns or canoe sterns and other design characteristics.

3.3 Australian Uniform Shipping Laws Code (USL)

The method of measurement used by the Australian Uniform Shipping Laws Code (USL) is referred to as measured length and is a measurement of the distance from the fore part of the hull to the after part of the hull, measured at the upper side of the uppermost watertight deck. The USL code measured length is used to determine safety equipment requirements for small vessels and is used by some States in their marine and harbours legislation. This method of measurement usually excludes an area at the bow of the vessel, which is not watertight and is usually used for anchor storage, and can lead to an under measurement by several metres when compared with the overall length method.

3.4 Overall length

The overall length method is defined in the Shipping Registration Act 1981 as measuring the distance between a vertical line passing through a point, being the foremost part of the stem, and a vertical line passing through a point, being the aftermost part of the stern. Overall length is used when registering ships on the Australian Shipping Register and is currently used by AFMA in determining units of fishing capacity in the Northern Prawn Fishery and in establishing boat length restrictions in the South East Fishery. However, there is no definition of overall length in the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

For the reasons outlined, the Lloyds, Waterline and USL code measured length methods are not the most suitable options when measuring the length of vessels for fisheries management purposes as they may be more readily used to increase the capacity of a boat while staying within a desired length.

The use of overall length minimises the scope for manipulation by operators to increase vessel capacity through exaggerating design features and if any changes in length are made they are readily visible. This is not necessarily the case with other methods.

4. AFMA'S approach

In the absence of a definition for overall length under the Fisheries Management Act 1991, AFMA has adopted the definition as specified in the Shipping Registration Act 1981 with a refinement that excludes appendages such as bowsprits, racks for sorting catch and overhanging fishing gear from the length, as follows:

The length of a fishing vessel will be obtained by measuring the distance between:

1. a vertical line passing through a point, being the foremost part of the stem excluding appendages; and
2. a vertical line passing through a point, being the aftermost part of the stern excluding appendages.

It should be noted that new vessels entering certain AFMA managed fisheries may have to be re-measured by a qualified surveyor if they have not already been measured by this method. Vessels which have already been granted access to fisheries using another method of measurement will be allowed to continue to operate until replaced

Page last updated 18 March, 2010