Volume 3, Issue 8, 11 May 2006 [see previous editions]
Budget boosts fight against illegal foreign fishing
The Australian Government has unveiled a new $388.9 million plan to combat illegal foreign fishing in northern Australian waters as part of the 2006-07 Federal Budget.
Under an integrated whole-of-government plan various Government agencies, including AFMA, will be provided with the resources to more than double the number of illegal foreign fishing boats that are apprehended each year.
The additional resources will meet the costs associated with the apprehension, transportation, processing and accommodation of the several thousand extra fishermen likely to be detained each year.
It will also fund the expansion of fishing boat management and destruction facilities, and the additional investigations and prosecutions. AFMA Chairman, Mr Tony Rundle said AFMA was more committed and better equipped than ever to fulfill its crucial role in combating illegal foreign fishing in Australia’s fishing zone.
“AFMA has already begun implementation of the new measures with the Australian Government’s announcement of a recruitment drive for another 20 AFMA officers to also be based at our new Darwin office.”
“AFMA officers will be deployed on Navy and Customs patrols to assist in apprehensions of illegal fishing vessels in both northern and southern ocean waters, provide expertise in the application of Australian fisheries laws, conduct investigations into illegal fishing offences, gather intelligence on illegal fishing activities and oversee destruction of illegal fishing vessels.
“Planning for the construction of new boat-destruction facilities in Broome, Darwin, Gove, Weipa, and Torres Strait will also commence immediately.
Details of the budget initiatives are available from the Minister's website.
Slope Resource Assessment Group (RAG), Melbourne |
Maybe you’re holding the last piece of the puzzle... Remember, nothing is too small to report, it all adds up! |
WANTED: new recruits to take up the fight against illegal foreign fishing
Would you like to play a role in Australia’s border security and take up the challenge of combating illegal foreign fishing?
AFMA is seeking a number of suitably qualified Senior Fisheries Officers and Fisheries Officers to join our busy team in Darwin.
In these hands-on positions you will be deployed on Navy and Customs patrols to assist in apprehensions of illegal fishing vessels, provide expertise in the application of Australian fisheries laws, conduct investigations into illegal fishing offences, gather intelligence on illegal fishing activities and oversee destruction of illegal fishing vessels.
We are looking for people with a high level of motivation, honesty and integrity, who are in good health, and can develop and use their technical expertise in fisheries enforcement, undertaking illegal fishing investigations and preparation of briefs of evidence.
More details on the positions are available from the AFMA website.
Minister outlines $15m AFMA levy subsidy
The Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Eric Abetz, has announced how the Government’s $15m AFMA levy subsidy will be allocated. The total levy subsidy will consist of $7m in 2006-07, $5m in 2007-08 and $3m in 2008-09.
The subsidy will be in two parts. The first part will offset the impact of the Government buy-out on the levies payable by fishing concession holders who remain in each fishery affected. The remaining subsidy will be distributed across all levy paying Commonwealth fisheries (except the Torres Prawn fishery) in proportion to the remaining recoverable management costs in each fishery. The levy subsidy does not apply to AFMA fee-for-service charges or to the FRDC levy.
The amount of levy subsidy per fishery for 2006-07 is expected to be calculated in September 2006. The levy subsidy per fishery for 2007-08 and 2008-09 will be recalculated each year.
Further information can also be obtained at www.afma.gov.au
If you have any questions contact AFMA’s Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Kettle on 02 6272 3260 or by email to andrew.kettle@afma.gov.au.
Catch disposal records to be trialled in the WTBF
Operators in the WTBF are advised that AFMA will be conducting a trial of Catch Disposal Records (CDRs) in the fishery starting on 1 June 2006. The trial will be in place until the allocation of Statutory Fishing Rights under the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management Plan 2005 has occurred.
Operators are advised that from this date the Commonwealth Catch Disposal Record PT02 should be filled in by both the operator and the AFMA issued Fish Receiver Permit holder that verifies the catch.
More information regarding this trial and CDR will be forwarded to those active fishers in the fishery and applicable fish receivers.
Alternatively, please contact Anne Shepherd in Data Entry or Brendan Kearney in Quota Management on AFMA direct 1300 723 621.
REMINDER – SBT arrangements on the east coast
Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF) operators are reminded SBT core and buffer zones will be implemented again this year to reduce non quota mortality of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT).
AFMA draws on the latest scientific data to establish the ‘zones’ to avoid the accidental catch of SBT. The arrangements are triggered when SBT are first caught off the south coast of NSW, or prior to the full moon in June.
AFMA has worked closely with Eastern Tuna MAC and industry to develop a strategy to minimise the cost associated with these arrangements.
AFMA will write to all ETBF operators shortly with full details. If you have any questions regarding the management arrangements to reduce non-quota mortality of SBT in the ETBF please contact Daniel Clifton on 02 6272 4812 or Graham Rudd on 02 6272 5282.
Amendments to SESSF Management Plan
SESSF Management is developing a number of Management Plan amendments to be implemented for the 2007 fishing season. The three SESSF MACs have all been consulted and asked to comment on the range of amendments – from ensuring that species and common names are correct in schedule 2 of the plan, through to the implementation of quarterly reconciliation periods and the permanent transfer or caught SFRs during the fishing year.
AFMA is also developing two Temporary Orders in the SESSF. The first is a continuation of the 2005 Specified Non Quota Temporary Order for Deepwater Species. This has enabled AFMA to assign a TAC to a range of deep water species.
Changes to quota reconciliation in the SESSF
AFMA will introduce within-season quota reconciliation in the SESSF during the 2006 fishing year. This year we will also introduce an additional quota reconciliation period on 31 August 2006. This will mean operators will have 28 days from 31 August to reconcile all over-quota catches with quota. Operators should also note that the overcatch and undercatch provisions of the SESSF Plan DO NOT apply to the August/September reconciliation.
Operators are also now required to reconcile their over-quota catches at the end of the fishing year. Therefore, operators will have 28 days from 31 December 2006 to cover their over-quota catches with uncaught quota. The overcatch and undercatch provisions of the SESSF plan WILL apply to this reconciliation period.
In 2007 operators will be required to reconcile their over-quota catches quota every quarter (being March; June; September; and December). Written notification of the changes to the quota reconciliation system will be sent out.
Changing common names of quota species in the SESSF Plan
The names of the quota species listed in Schedule 2 of the SESSF Management Plan will be amended to be consistent with the agreed fish marketing names developed under the FRDC funded project to achieve national consistency of fish names across Australia. All SESSF logbooks will also be updated as new re-prints are needed.
All concession holders are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure they have read and understand the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Management Plan 2003 and all subsequent plan amendments and temporary orders. These documents can be found under the publications link on the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery web page of the AFMA Website.
If you have any questions relating to management plan amendments or the implementation of the two temporary orders contact AFMA on 1300 723 621
SESSF Management Workshops
AFMA will be holding a series of workshops to engage fishers and other relevant stakeholders directly in refining the management measures that we released in March 2006. We are particularly keen to engage on-the-water operators and skippers in the workshops. SESSF MAC and RAG members will be encouraged to attend at least one workshop. Workshops will be held on the following dates:
Location |
Date |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | 15-16 June |
| Canberra | 22 – 23 June |
| Lakes Entrance | 19 – 20 June |
| Hobart | 26 – 27 June |
Further details on the venue’s and a draft agenda will be released shortly.
AFMA Board head to ‘Lakes’
The next meeting of the AFMA Board will be in Lakes Entrance on 17-18 May 2006.
Commonwealth license holders based in the area are invited to join AFMA Directors over light refreshments at the Bellevue Hotel, 201 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance.
Date: Wednesday 17 May, 2006
Time: 5.30pm to 6.30pm
RSVP: Tuesday 16 May – phone 02 6272 5029 or email reception@afma.gov.au
