Volume 4, Issue 16, 10 August 2007 [see previous editions]
Balance your quota and catch, SESSF operators
Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) concession holders are reminded that the second quarterly catch balancing date, 31 August 2007 , is fast approaching.
On this date, SESSF concession holders are required to balance all of their catches against their quota holdings by 5pm EST, by either transferring/leasing quota to cover their excess catches and/or advising AFMA of any discrepancies on their quota transaction statement.
Shortly, AFMA will be sending quota holding and catch summaries as well as quota transaction statements to assist concession holders with balancing catches against quota holdings. We also encourage concession holders to submit their leases early to avoid any complications.
It is important for concession holders to ensure they are not in an over quota position at any time. Concession holders are encouraged to use Quotaview on AFMA's website as an indicative record of their catch and quota position.
If you have any questions regarding these requirements please contact Ben Munstermann on 1300 723 621 or by email quota.manager@afma.gov.au .
Research proposal reminders
The Commonwealth Fisheries Research and Advisory Body (ComFRAB), which reviews and advises the AFMA Board and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) on Commonwealth fisheries research requirements and proposals, has now reviewed pre-proposals for 2007/08 tactical research and 2008/09 strategic research. Feedback has been provided to researchers and to Management Advisory Committees (MACs).
Researcher providers are encouraged to liaise with relevant MACs to ensure that their full proposals are considered in time. An electronic copy of the full proposal must be sent by 1 September 2007 to Research.Secretary@afma.gov.au . Proposals must also be lodged on FishNet on FRDC's website.
MACs are also reminded to send their assessment of full proposals to Research.Secretary@afma.gov.au by 1 September.
ComFRAB will consider full proposals on 3-4 October 2007.
Proposed US legislation on IUU fishing and bycatch
The US Government published a proposal for legislation that would ban imports to the US of seafood from countries whose fishers are engaged in Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing activities, and from countries that employ fishing practices that result in the bycatch of “protected living marine resources”.
The proposed legislation specifically mentions the mandatory use of circle hooks in longline fisheries to mitigate sea turtle capture but is likely to be much wider in application. The US indicated the legislation will likely be enacted in 2009.
The US Government is undertaking domestic consultation on the proposed legislation. This consultation will later be widened to include international stakeholders.
The Australian Government, led by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is liaising with US counterparts to determine the application and impact of such legislation on Australian fisheries. The Government will prepare a submission in response to the proposed legislation once it becomes available. Any enquiries or comments about the proposed legislation should be directed to Trysh Stone, Senior Manager Tuna and International Fisheries Section on (02) 6225 5311 or trysh.stone@afma.gov.au .
Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) zones remain unchanged
AFMA reviews the location of SBT core and buffer zones in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery every two weeks. Please note the location of the zones will remain the same for the coming fortnight, commencing midnight 7 August 2007.
More details about the SBT core and buffer zones, together with maps and other information about minimum quota holdings and observer coverage, can be found on AFMA's website or by calling Wez Norris on 02 6225 5312 or 1300 723 621.
Talking fish at the 2007 ASFB Conference
The Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) is holding its annual conference and workshop on
11-15 September at the National Academy of Science's Shine Dome in Canberra . The workshop will review and critically examine the effectiveness of spatial fisheries management tools in Australia and overseas. A full program and registration details for the conference and workshop is available on the ASFB website.
