Volume 4, Issue 22, 7 November 2007 [see previous editions]
Got your guide on board?
Did you know that AFMA has a
‘boat-friendly’ ID guide which is a handy reference tool for fishers in the event of an interaction with a protected species?
The guide, intended to go in the wheelhouse of all Commonwealth fishery vessels, has pictures and information about a range of protected species fishers do or have the potential to interact with. Funding for the guide was provided by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and the Department of the Environment and Water Resources.
The ID guide was distributed during April and May to permit holders across all Commonwealth fisheries to pass on to their vessels, with copies also handed out directly at ports by AFMA’s liaison officers and observers. An online copy is also on AFMA’s website.
If you haven’t got a copy on your boat, additional copies are now available. Simply email Tamsin.Allen@afma.gov.au, or call AFMA DIrect, 1300 723 621 with your mailing details so we can send you a free copy.
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Date: 7 - 8 Nov Date: 13- 14 Nov Date: 15-16 Nov Date: 21- 22 Nov
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Total Allowable Catch recommendations for 2008
AFMA is providing the opportunity for all Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) concession holders to consider proposed Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits for 2008 for its quota species. The most recent stock assessments for each of the quota species, as well as AFMA’s recommendations for the 2008 TACs, have now been sent to concession holders.
Please note these are not the final TACs for 2008. The recommendations are being released to provide the opportunity for consideration prior to going to the relevant Management Advisory Committees who will provide advice to the AFMA Board. Final TACs will be determined by the Board in December 2007.
AFMA’s position paper, outlining the TAC recommendations, is now on AFMA’s website. For more information, please contact Trent Timmiss, Manager Gillnet, Hook and Trap Fisheries or Melissa Brown, Manager South East Trawl Fishery on AFMA Direct, 1300 723 621.
A longer NPF tiger prawn season
The Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) tiger prawn season currently underway has been extended by two weeks and will now finish on 29 November 2007. The season was extended because the trigger of 300kg per vessel per day was exceeded. This will allow vessels in the NPF to continue fishing longer than last year to maximise the economic benefit to the fishery.
Southern Bluefin Tuna zones in the ETBF
AFMA regularly reviews the location of Southern Bluefin Tuna zones for the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF).The location of the zones will be changing for the fortnight beginning midnight tonight, Wednesday 7 November. Details of the zone locations will be available on AFMA’s website.
Maps and other information about minimum quota holdings and observer coverage are also available on the website, or by calling Wez Norris on (02) 6225 5312 or AFMA Direct, 1300 723 621.
End of season licensing arrangements
Fishery |
Last date for permanent trading for 2006/07 season |
New season commences |
|---|---|---|
Heard and McDonald Islands (HIMI) |
9 November 2007 |
1 December 2007 * |
Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) |
9 November 2007 |
1 December 2007 * |
Southern Squid Jig (SSJ) |
5PM EST 7 December 2007 |
1 January 2008 * |
* New extracts will be sent by this date
Any current boats nominated will remain nominated for the new season. Please make sure that any new or different boats are nominated to Statutory Fishing Rights. To nominate a boat, please use the BN and respective fishery attachment form which can be found on AFMA’s website. Lease arrangements for the upcoming season can be submitted on the LC form (with respective fishery attachment), also available on the website. Please note that lease forms submitted for the new season will not be processed until after the start of that season.
If you have any questions regarding any end of season processes, please call Licensing and Quota Management on AFMA Direct, 1300 723 621.
Combating illegal fishing in our region
During November, AFMA is participating in a workshop to support the implementation of a plan of action to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in our region.
The Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices Including Combating IUU Fishing in the Region (or RPOA) was adopted at a meeting of regional fisheries Ministers in May 2007. It outlines a number of agreed measures to strengthen current fisheries management and compliance arrangements in South-East Asia to ensure long term sustainable fisheries into the future.
The workshop, to be held in Bangkok from 13-15 November, will further progress and develop actions in a number of priority areas including monitoring, control and surveillance, identifying information needs about fishing impacts of illegal fishing (critical to stopping IUU fishing), and eliminating the incentives for illegal fishing activity.
