Volume 3, Issue 21, 10 November 2006 [see previous editions]
Orange roughy added to threatened species list
The Orange Roughy fish species will be added to the threatened species list under Australian environment law, the Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, announced today.
“Orange Roughy is the first commercially harvested fish to be listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,” Senator Campbell said.
Orange Roughy will be listed as conservation dependent, and will be managed subject to a conservation programme to be implemented by AFMA.
“Scientific advice to me indicated that Orange Roughy is under considerable pressure and protection under environment law is needed if the species is to have any chance of long-term survival,” Senator Campbell said.
The conservation programme will protect Orange Roughy from over-fishing, in part by prohibiting targeted fishing in fishing zones. Catch limits at the Cascade Plateau will be set at levels that will conserve the species – AFMA has already announced a reduction in the zone’s 2007 total allowable Orange Roughy catch.
“My decision to add the Orange Roughy to the threatened species list follows careful consideration of the scientific information, as well as extensive consultation with experts and the public,” Senator Campbell said.
Orange Roughy are found in south-eastern and south-western Australia, the Great Australian Bight and around Tasmania, and have been one of the primary species caught in Australia’s south-east fisheries since the late 1980s. It can live to well over 100 years, and reach maturity at between 20 and 30 years of age. Unlike many fish species, its reproduction rate is low.
“My decision reflects the Government’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of our natural resources,” Senator Campbell said.
AFMA is in the process of writing to concession-holders outlining details of the conservation programme. The 2007 catch limits for Orange Roughy announced by AFMA in October are consistent with the programme.
In the interim, further information about the listing of the Orange Roughy under the EPBC Act are available online at: www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html
NORMAC Contact Annie Jarrett on (07) 5437 0513 SouthMAC Open Public Meeting Contact Peter Neave on (02) 6272 5794 or by email peter.neave@afma.gov.au For more details and agenda papers for upcoming MAC meetings, please check the AFMA website. |
Quota SFR grant to give certainty to shark fishers
School and gummy shark fishers in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark (SESS) Fishery will soon have secure fishing rights with the grant of quota Statutory Fishing Rights (SFRs). The AFMA Board has announced its intention to commence the process of granting of quota SFRs for four shark species in the fishery.
AFMA Board Chair, Tony Rundle, said that the move ends six years of uncertainty over the allocation of fishing rights for school and gummy shark. Repeated legal challenges over allocation have delayed the grant of SFRs. These are now largely resolved.
“This will finally give operators in the fishery more security, as ongoing fishing rights will be able to be issued under the management plan,” he said.
The first step towards a final grant of quota SFRs is to set a ‘snap shot’ date. All operators will receive one quota SFR for each quota unit they hold on the snap shot date.
“The AFMA Board has decided to set that snap shot date as 15 December 2006, subject to the necessary amendments to the management plan coming in to force,” Mr Rundle said.
“Operators should be aware that any trades that occur after this date will not give ongoing benefits to the transferee. In addition, outcomes of any successful appeal decided after this date will not affect the number of SFRs granted. This is because only the quota holder on the snapshot date will receive one quota SFR for each quota unit held on that date.”
Following the plan amendment coming into force, AFMA will provide further notice to operators setting out the details of the SFR grant process.
AFMA sets SBT quota
AFMA has set the Australian national catch allocation for the southern bluefin tuna (SBT) fishing season commencing on 1 December 2006 as 5,265 tonnes.
AFMA Board Chair, Tony Rundle, said the allocation decision took into consideration advice and outcomes from the recent Commission for Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) Scientific Committee meeting and submissions from interested parties.
“The figure agreed to by AFMA is consistent with Australia's national allocation set by the CCSBT at its recent meeting. While it is not possible under the current management plan to set Australia's national catch allocation for more than one year, the Board signalled its intention to set the Australian national catch allocation for the following two seasons at 5,265 tonnes.
“This intention is subject to changes in circumstances that may impact on the SBT Fishery, including any scientific advice that suggests there have or will be further declines in the stock consistent with resolutions of the CCSBT,” he said.
AFMA welcomes agreements reached by the Commission to halve Japan's catch for the next five years (6,065 tonnes down to 3,000 tonnes) after an independent report pointed to a considerable Japanese overcatch over several years.
AFMA also welcomes measures agreed to by the CCSBT to improve monitoring, control and surveillance within the fishery.
Removal of Southern Bluefin Tuna core and buffer zones
SBT Core and Buffer Zones management arrangements in the southern area of the Eastern Tuna and Billfish fishery will be removed from midnight 11 November 2006 as assessments indicate that there is a low risk of significant non quota catch of Southern Bluefin Tuna. Full details and updates on SBT zones can be found on AFMA’s website.
Reminders for end of season fishing in the HIMI and SBT fisheries
The last date for permanent trading for the 2005/06 fishing season in the Heard Island and Macquarie Island (HIMI) and Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) is 12 November 2006. New extracts for 2006/07 season will be sent by 1 December 2006.
If you have any questions regarding any end of season processes please call Licensing on AFMA Direct 1300 723 621.
WTBF Plan Amendment
The WTBF Plan Amendment to correct a drafting anomaly in the Plan was determined by AFMA on 26 October 2006 and accepted by the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, on 7 November 2006. This means that AFMA can now resume the SFR allocation process and anticipates making the provisional grant of SFRs in the week commencing 27 November. If you have any questions on the amendment or the SFR grant process, please contact Ed Ho-Shon on (02) 6272 4025.
