Vol 3, Issue 17, 4 October 2006 [see previous editions]
Board takes initiative on protection of deepwater species and habitats
The AFMA Board has signed off on a range of new spatial closures to mitigate various ecological impacts, reduce the bycatch of school shark and provide protection for deepwater species in the SESSF.
Among the closures is a ban on fishing in depths below 700m by any method in the SESSF unless the Board approves a specific proposal that satisfies a range of environmental and management requirements. This deepwater closure will prevent the targeting of all non-quota deepwater species and protect fragile deepwater habitats from the effects of fishing.
The depth closure will come into effect from 1 January 2007 and will complement additional area and seasonal closures in other parts of the fishery.
In future, operators who wish to develop fisheries in deepwater will need to consider the costs of the development before fishing, including research and stock assessment costs. In this way the risks are borne by the beneficiaries and the true economic benefits of the development can be monitored in accordance with AFMA’s legislative requirements.
There will be an exception for the Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector where an alternative depth closure is to be determined. Fishing for Orange roughy and Alfonsino in designated areas will also continue under current arrangements consistent with the Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy.
Compliance with this management measure will be monitored through the use of an on-board vessel monitoring system. Details of the spatial closures agreed by the Board have been mailed to all SESSF licence holders and are also available on AFMA’s website: www.afma.gov.au
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Threats towards Fisheries Officers
AFMA is aware of the difficult economic circumstances the fishing industry is experiencing in 2006 and the stresses fishers are under in maintaining profits and the uncertainty of the future, especially during the restructuring of Commonwealth fisheries.
Unfortunately, it appears some of this stress is being taken out on AFMA’s Fisheries Officers with recent incidents of officers being subject to verbal abuse, intimidating behaviour and personal threats of physical harm to officers and their family members.
Like all other members of the workforce, they should be afforded the courtesy to perform their duties without being subject to intimidation or verbal or physical abuse. All concession holders, skippers and crew should be aware it is an offence under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 to threaten, abuse or use threatening language towards a fisheries officer.
AFMA deplores such behaviour and is prepared to take action if appropriate. Obviously we would prefer these incidents be avoided in the first place, and therefore ask all operators to ensure that they, their skippers and crew do not engage in this type of behaviour.
If you have any queries in relation to this issue please contact John Andersen, Manager Compliance Operations on (02) 6272 4222.
AFMA to roll-out e-business
AFMA will introduce a range of e-Business services over the next three years to improve the cost efficiency and service delivery of licensing and quota monitoring and allow industry to manage business with AFMA online.
The introduction of e-Business will start on 1 January 2007 with fishers able to access detailed information on their concession holdings. New services and features will continue to come online over the following three years. It is estimated that e-Business may result in a 30% reduction in the licensing component of the levy base within three years.
Paper based transactions will still be available, however these transactions will most likely be cost recovered under a fee for service arrangement.
AFMA will also undertake a feasibility study to explore electronic data transfer options for Catch Disposal Records (CDR). This study will investigate ways to automate the submission of CDR data from port direct to AFMA.
A detailed discussion paper explaining the proposed e-Business solution for licensing and quota monitoring functions and timetable for implementation is now available on AFMA’s website. Members of industry and MACs are welcome to comment on the proposed services or to suggest other electronic services. If you have any questions on this contact Margot Sachse, Manager Quota Management on (02) 6272 5659.
Location of SBT core and buffer zones in the ETBF
The area of the southern bluefin tuna (SBT) core and buffer zones of the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery has been reassessed for the two week period beginning 30 September 2006. The core zone is all waters south of 36° South. The buffer zone is all waters between 35° South and 36° South.
Full details and updates on SBT zones can be found on AFMA’s website.
Recent MAC appointments
The AFMA Board has made the following MAC appointments recently: ETMAC Industry Member, Mr Cathal Farrell; ScallopMAC Chair, Ms Mary Lack; SPFMAC State Govt. Member Ms Kelly Crosthwaite; SPFMAC DEH Observer, Mr Mark Allen; GABMAC State Govt. Member, Mr Martin Smallridge; GABMAC DEH Observer, Ms Caitlin Barry; WTMAC Chair, Dr Anthony Lewis; WTMAC AFMA Member, Ms Trysh Stone; WTMAC Research member, Mr Kevin McLoughlin; WTMAC Industry Member, Mr Robert Fish; WTMAC Industry Member, Mr Terry Romaro; WTMAC Industry Member, Ms Erica Starling; WTMAC Conservation Member, Mr Paul Gamblin; WTMAC Recreational/Charter member, Mr Neil Patrick; WTMAC State Govt. Member, Mr Greg Paust; WTMAC DEH Observer, Mr David Walter; WESTMAC Chair, Dr Ron Edwards; WESTMAC AFMA Member, Mr Wade Whitelaw; WESTMAC Research member, Dr Anthony Koslow; WESTMAC Industry Member, Mr Richard Elvin; WESTMAC, Industry Member, Mr Greg Ferguson; WESTMAC Industry Member, Mr David Guillot; WESTMAC Industry Member, Mr Michael O’Brien; WESTMAC Conservation Member, Miss Lorraine Hitch; WESTMAC State Govt. Member, Mr Greg Paust; WESTMAC DEH Observer, Dr Clinton Chambers.
For more information contact Graham Rudd on 6272 5045.
