Volume 4, Issue 14, 6 July 2007 [see previous editions]
2006 BRS Fisheries Status Report now out!
Australian Minister for Fisheries and Conservation, Senator Eric Abetz, this week announced the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) Fisheries Status Report 2006.
The Minister said a record 97 fish stocks had been assessed in the 2006 report covering stocks managed solely by the Australian Government, through AFMA, as well as stocks managed jointly with other jurisdictions including international Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).
Of the 97 stocks, 27 were classified as ‘not over-fished’ (up from 19 in 2005) and 19 were classified as ‘over-fished’ and/or ‘subject to over-fishing’ (down from 24 in 2005). A further 51 stocks were classified as ‘uncertain’. Stocks are classified as ‘uncertain’ where insufficient information is available to provide a definitive classification and does not indicate a trend towards being ‘over-fished’ or ‘not over-fished’.
Nonetheless, all Commonwealth-managed stocks classified as ‘uncertain’ are subject to the management reforms introduced as part of the Australian Government’s Securing our Fishing Future package.
The Minister said the five stocks classified as subject to over-fishing were all highly migratory species (e.g. big eye tuna in the Pacific Ocean) managed internationally by RFMOs, and over-fishing was the result of excess fishing pressure from international fleets, not Australian vessels. Australia is working through the relevant RFMOs to ensure the long-term sustainability of these species.
A copy of the 2006 report can be found at www.affa.gov.au/statusreports and the Minister’s full press release is available at http://www.mffc.gov.au/releases/2007/07068a.html.
Fishers invited to talk with AFMA Board
The next AFMA Board meeting will be held in Maroochydore on 10-11 July 2007. Commonwealth fishing concession holders based in the area are invited to join AFMA Board Directors for light refreshments at the Surf Bar, Maroochydore Surf Club, 34-36 Alexandra Parade, Maroochydore.
Date: Tuesday 10 July 2007, 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Please RSVP to Milica Milanja on 02 6225 5400 or milica.milanja@afma.gov.au
Changes to SBT zones on the east coast
Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) fishers in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery need to be aware that changes to SBT zones will come into force from midnight on Tuesday, 10 July 2007.
The location of the updated core and buffer zones, together with maps and other information about minimum quota holdings and observer coverage can be found on AFMA's website at http://www.afma.gov.au/fisheries/tuna/etbf/mgt/zones.htm .
AFMA will review the location of the zones every two weeks . For further information please contact Wez Norris on 02 6225 5312 or by email at wez.norris@afma.gov.au .
Call for ETBF industry to participate in Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is seeking expressions of interest from ETBF industry members to participate in the Australian delegation to the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting to be held from 3-7 December 2007 and the WCPFC Technical Compliance Committee meeting taking place from 27 September- 2 October 2007. Both meetings are taking place in Pohnpei , Federated States of Micronesia.
For further information please contact Lara Santana on 02 6272 5715 or by email at Lara.Santana@daff.gov.au .
Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Closures Direction
The Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark (Closures) Direction 2007 contains 21 schedules each describing a separate closure within the area of the SESS Fishery (SESSF). Of the 21 schedules eight have been implemented through past Directions and are being renewed. The remaining 13 are being implemented for the first time.
The closures, agreed by the AFMA Board in late 2006, form part of the SESSF response to the Ministerial Direction and are designed to afford protection to a number of higher risk species such as school shark, orange roughy, sea lions and gulper sharks as well as provide additional protection to a range of other species.
A number of new closures have been developed based on depth contours, for example the 183m Gillnet Depth Closure. As it is not practical to regulate depth contours precisely, AFMA, with the assistance of Geoscience Australia , has developed a line of best fit. This line is represented by a series of co-ordinates, and it is these co-ordinates that make up the closure area, not the depth contour.
All SESSF concession holders were sent a package containing a letter, copy of the Direction with closure coordinates and a series of maps visually describing the 21 closure schedules. This package was also provided to other stakeholders including MACs, RAGs and peak industry bodies and is available on the AFMA website at http://www.afma.gov.au/fisheries/sess/sess/notices/default.htm .
The closure direction is scheduled to come into effect on 12 July 2007, the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
Get your comments in for the Tuna Purse Seine Bycatch Action Plan
The AFMA Environment Committee recently reviewed the draft Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries Bycatch Action Plan (BAP) 2007 for the Southern Bluefin Tuna and Skipjack Fisheries. The Committee approved the draft to be released for public comment.
The BAP and accompanying letter can be found at http://www.afma.gov.au/environment/bycatch/comment.htm .
If you wish to provide comment please send it to Ryan Murphy, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, PO Box 7051, Canberra BC ACT 2610, or by email to ryan.murphy@afma.gov.au . All public comments must be received by COB Tuesday, 1 August 2007 .
Longline Fishers Workshop- Sydney Fish Markets, 18 July 2007
Where does your yellowfin tuna come from? Why are all broadbill swordfish over 150kg female?
If you're an East coast longline fisher and you want to know the answer to these questions and more, come and join us at our science-industry workshop being held at 9am on Wednesday 18 July at the Sydney Fish Markets.
Hosted by the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery Research Assessment Group (ETBRAG), the workshop will provide operators with a chance to hear the latest research developments in the fishery. You will also have the opportunity to give your views on research priorities for the future.
The workshop will include presentations on nine of our current ETBF research projects ranging from biological studies to bycatch mitigation. Each project's principal investigator will be on hand to answer questions and discuss how each project contributes to management of the fishery.
A summary of the biology of key target species will be provided at the start of the workshop along with an update of current catches in the domestic fishery and wider Central and Western Pacific Ocean (WCPO) Fishery. There will also be an overview of associated research in the WCPO.
The ETBRAG will also provide operators with an overview of the fishery's harvest strategy describing how it works to achieve a sustainable fishery and its implications for fishers when it is introduced next year. The harvest strategy will define the level of catch/effort for key target species each year, so it is important operators have some knowledge of the process.
ETBF Permit holders, longline vessel skippers and crew are encouraged to participate in the workshop and share a few drinks with the researchers afterwards. Further details are available from Eastern Tuna MAC Executive Officer Ian Freeman on 02 6649 2361 or 0418 265 558.
