$220m to secure Australia’s fishing future

The Minister for Fisheries, Senator Ian Macdonald today announced a $220 million adjustment package to help secure Commonwealth fish stocks and a profitable future for the fishing industry. The Securing our Fishing Future package follows concerns about the state of Australia's fish stocks, and the sustainability and profitability of the industry.

The Government will provide a major package of one-off structural adjustment and improved management measures for those fisheries managed by the Australian Government. As part of the measures, AFMA has today released new catch limits for the SESS and effort limits in the ETBF (further information follows).

The centrepiece of the package is $150 million for a one-off, capped fishing concession buyout focused on reducing the high level of fishing capacity in those Commonwealth fisheries that are subject to over-fishing – or at significant risk of over-fishing in the future. This will also address the displaced fishing effort arising from the creation of Marine Protected Areas in the south east marine region. A further $70 million in complementary assistance will be available for other activities. Elements of the package are outlined in the table below:

A sustainable and profitable future for Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF)

AFMA welcomes the announcement of a structural adjustment package for Commonwealth fisheries by the Australian Government. As part of these arrangements, the ETBF will be managed through input controls or by managing the level of effort, via a formal fishery management plan recently approved by the Minster.

AFMA today announced that it will set the total allowable effort in the fishery to ensure that no more than 7 million hooks can be set in the mainland Australian Fishing Zone and no more than 2.5 million hooks can be set in the remainder of the fishery. This will come into effect following the grant of Statutory Fishing Rights (SFRs) under the Management Plan. This is anticipated to commence in 2007.

The Board has also agreed to manage the take of broadbill swordfish under catch limits for 2006, and an annual catch limit of 1,400 tonnes for swordfish will be introduced on 1 January 2006. AFMA’s Managing Director, Mr Richard McLoughlin said these decisions will improve the sustainability of the fishery and allow fish stocks to stabilise.

“These arrangements form part of an overall Government strategy to improve the ecological sustainability and economic efficiency of the fishery. With these arrangements and the Government’s structural adjustment package, we will be able to rebuild fish stocks and continue to work with industry to restore profitability and competitiveness for the industry.”

For further information please visit our website or contact AFMA Direct on 1300 723 621

New catch limits for Southern and Eastern Fisheries

As part of the Government’s structural adjustment package, AFMA has also released new catch limits for the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF). AFMA’s Managing Director Mr Richard McLoughlin said the limits will ensure on-going sustainability of key fish and shark species caught off Australia’s eastern and southern coasts.

“We are implementing a harvest strategy approach that represents world’s best practice. This allows AFMA to address overfishing in the fishery and will ensure the sustainability of key fish stocks. Under this framework, the SESSF Resource Assessment Group has developed and recommended safe biological catch levels. The AFMA Board has considered this advice and determined the total allowable catches for each species.

“The catch limits represent the measures necessary to ensure sustainability of this important fishery and will complement the Federal Government’s structural adjustment package to ensure the ecological sustainability and profitability of Australia’s major fisheries,” he said.

Our release of Total Allowable Catches (TAC’s) for 2006 and projected TAC’s for 2007 will assist industry members in deciding whether or not to participate in the Australian Government’s structural adjustment package. The 2007 TAC’s reflect the present level of knowledge and will be confirmed following additional scientific analysis in 2006.

For further information please visit our website or contact AFMA Direct on 1300 723 621.

Following are the Total Allowable Catch limits for the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery for 2006 and projected TAC’s for 2007.