WA submarine cable protection zones to take effect

Fishers operating off Perth, Western Australia should be aware that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has declared a new protection zone over a key submarine cable.

In this area, activities that may cause cable damage are prohibited or restricted, some of which are relevant to commercial fishers such as demersal longlining, trawl fishing and anchoring.

The Perth submarine protection zone comes into effect on 1 February 2008. It extends from City Beach, Perth, to 51 nautical miles offshore (or to a depth of 2000 metres). The zone extends one nautical mile either side of the SEA-ME-WE3 cable linking Australia’s communications network with South East Asia, the Middle East and Western Europe.

It is an offence to engage in a prohibited activity or contravene a restriction in a protection zone, or to damage a submarine cable.

Full details are available at the ACMA website or by calling ACMA
on 1300 856 337.

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Quota and Catch Balancing for the SESSF – 31 January 2008

Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) concession holders are reminded the third quarterly catch balancing date, 31 January 2008, is fast approaching.  By 5pm EST on this date, SESSF concession holders must balance all their catches against their quota holdings by transferring/leasing quota to cover their excess catches and/or advising AFMA of any discrepancies on their quota transaction statement.

In mid January, 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 encourage concession holders to submit their leases early.

Concession holders should ensure they are not over quota. Concession holders with access to QuotaView can use this service to get an indicative record of their catch and quota.

Questions? Contact Ben Munstermann on 1300 723 621 or quota.manager@afma.gov.au

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Levy Invoices

Due to difficulties in finalising the figures for the FRDC levy and the timing of the election, levy invoices will not be issued before the end of January 2008. AFMA apologises for any inconvenience this may cause, and will inform concession holders once timelines for the invoicing of individual fisheries have been determined.

As concession holders are aware, the 2007-08 levies are based on financial year budgets approved by the AFMA Board in May 2007 after consultation with management advisory committees. Levy invoices will reflect the change in levy subsidy from $7 million to $ 5 million provided through the government’s Securing our Fishing Future package.

If you have any questions please contact AFMA Licensing on 1300 723 621 or by email at licensing@afma.gov.au  

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Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery and Small Pelagic Fishery Liaison Visits

In November, Liaison Officer, Sally Weekes and newly appointed Observer, Matt Mclean, undertook a liaison trip to ports in Tasmania. The trip was a great opportunity for operators in the SESSF and SPF to meet AFMA representatives and raise any issues relating to logbooks and fisheries management.

Overall, industry was positive about the current environment with catches steady, good prices being received for fish and, in recent years, greater recruitment of smaller fish including school shark, gummy shark, jackass morwong, gemfish and blue-eye trevalla. Concerns were raised in relation to the difficulty obtaining quota, particularly for blue-eye trevalla, and how this has been exacerbated by the 16 month fishing year; the 6000m gillnet trial for the gillnet sector; implementation of VMS for smaller scale operators and electronic logbooks. All feedback has been reported to management and the relevant sections within AFMA. A full report will be available on the AFMA website in early 2008.

Another trip is planned for western Victoria in early 2008. To take part, or for more information, contact Senior Liaison Officer Sally Weekes on (02) 6225 5555. 

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Concession holders pay for non-compliance with Threat Abatement Plan

While most concession holders do the right thing, a recent prosecution serves as a timely reminder of the significance of the Threat Abatement Plan for the Incidental Catch (or Bycatch) of Seabirds during Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations (TAP). The TAP is designed to limit interactions with protected species during fishing operations and to ensure the environmental sustainability of our fisheries. In order to ensure the TAP is taken seriously, any concession holder who fails to comply may face serious consequences.

On 15 November 2007 three Eastern Tuna & Billfish concession holders were charged with two counts of contravening conditions of their concession relating to the non-use of tori poles and incorrect use of weighted swivels while fishing in May 2006.

All pleaded guilty to the charges. In sentencing it was acknowledged that while two of the concession holders were aware the correct equipment was on the boat and had trusted their son in its use, they could not escape their responsibility as concession holders to comply with the conditions of their concession. They were convicted but released upon entering a recognisance in the sum of $1,000 to be of good behaviour for a period of six months. The son was also convicted and fined $1,500 in default of 15 days imprisonment.

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Illegal foreign fishers receive gaol sentences

The Darwin Court of Summary Jurisdiction has, for the first time, imposed gaol sentences against four masters and a number of their crew for fishing illegally in Australia's Territorial Sea. 

Two of the fishing vessels were apprehended fishing at Ashmore Reef, located in the MOU box in the north west of the Australian Fishing Zone, the third vessel was apprehended near Adele Island north of the Kimberley coast and the fourth vessel was apprehended near Saddle Island in the Torres Strait Protected Zone.

The master of the Bintang Laut, apprehended with 40kg of fresh trepang on board, is serving two months of a five month prison sentence at Berrimah Prison in Darwin. Two of his crew members will also spend one month in the maximum security prison.  

The master and two crew members of the traditional fishing vessel Berkat Agung, apprehended with 10kg of fresh shark and 8kg of reef fish, received a suspended sentence, while a third crew member was ordered to spend 10 days in prison. The remaining crew members were fined $3000. 

The master of the Baronoko Jaya apprehended with shark fins on board will serve one month of a five month prison sentence whilst the master of the trochus vessel Aidi Suberti Jaya will also spend 21 days in prison. 

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