Volume 5, Issue 1, 15 January 2008 [see previous editions]
INSIDE THIS EDITION: |
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Welcome to the first edition of AFMA Update for 2008 |
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End of the road for Viarsa 1
In December 2007 the end of road came for the 65 metre longline fishing vessel Viarsa 1 when it arrived in Mumbai for demolition in the Indian ship breaking yards.
The Uruguayan flagged Viarsa 1 had been the subject of the longest hot pursuit in maritime history after it was detected operating inside Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone around the Heard and McDonald Islands in the Southern Oceans.
The pursuit of the vessel, undertaken by the Australian Fisheries and Customs patrol vessel Southern Supporter, went for 21 days and covered over 3,900 nautical miles.
The Viarsa 1 was finally cornered in the South Atlantic by a combined force of officers and vessels from Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The Viarsa 1 was subsequently escorted back to Australia by the Southern Supporter where it was seized by AFMA.
While the seizure action was challenged by the owners the Federal Court dismissed the application in February 2007 paving the way for AFMA to undertake a disposal tender which culminated with the vessels demolition in India in December 2007.
The Viarsa 1 has attracted international attention even inspiring Wall Street journalist, Bruce Knecht to begin writing Hooked, a book about the hot pursuit. Knecht is also the author of The Proving Ground about the disastrous 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
In an odd twist the Viarsa 1 probably did more to raise the profile of illegal fishing in the international community than any other incident.
Each year AFMA is responsible for the disposal of numerous foreign vessels that have been forfeited to the Commonwealth on a non contestable basis ranging in size from small wooden traditional fishing vessels with 4-5 crew through to large factory ships that carry some 40-50 fishermen.
In the Autumn 2008 issue of Fishing Future we will take a look at some of these vessels, the disposal process and the people involved.
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Further to notices in the last issue of AFMA Update, AFMA will begin issuing levy invoices in February. AFMA apologises for any inconvenience this delay may cause, and will inform concession holders once timelines for the invoicing of individual fisheries have been determined. AFMA is working with DAFF to find a way to finalise the levy regulations much earlier for the coming financial year so that industry has more time to structure payment. We will keep you informed of the process. 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 licensing@afma.gov.au |
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 31 January, 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.
SESSF operators should receive a copy of their quota holding and catch summaries as well as a quota transaction statement shortly, to assist with balancing catches against quota holdings.
Please contact AFMA if you have not received your statements. We encourage concession holders to submit their leases/transfers early to cover any overcatch position.
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
Marine Bioregional Planning
Please note minor corrections have been made to this article since its initial publication
AFMA stakeholders are reminded of the ongoing process of marine bioregional planning being conducted by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). The process consists of 3 main stages
- the release of a bioregional profile that forms the information base for subsequent development of a bioregional plan;
- a draft plan released 12 months after the profile that includes a candidate set of MPAs for each of the bioregions; and
- a final plan released 12 months after the draft plan that will be used as a decision making tool for the minister and other government decision makers.
The profile for the south-west was released on the 12 October 2007 and now the team is in the process of beginning consultation with stakeholders in the region. AFMA representatives met with the team from the south-west before Christmas and the team indicated there would be stakeholder meetings in Perth and Adelaide, in the coming months. Dates for these meeting are yet to be finalized.
It is anticipated that a draft plan will be completed by October 2008 and will include a draft set of candidate MPAs. There will be opportunities for all stakeholders to have input into the development of the Draft Plan - AFMA is heavily involved in the process and encourage industry to do the same. Profiles for the three remaining bioregions are expected to be released in the first half of 2008. Information on marine bioregional planning can be found on the DEWHA website
Anyone wishing to find out more about the process of marine bioregional planning or AFMA’s involvement in the process should contact Jeremy Smith on (02) 6225 5351 or jeremy.smith@afma.gov.au .
Captain MJ Souza in Eden
AFMA has confirmed that New Zealand-flagged fishing vessel the Captain MJ Souza has been declared to be an Australian boat under s4(2) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 for a limited period to allow it to operate and fish under an Australian licence from Eden in NSW.
This declaration is effective until 28 February 2008 and will allow the 68 metre purse seiner to take part in an initial trial in the skipjack tuna fishery (east) to supply Port Lincoln Tuna Processors.
Logan Farms Pty Ltd is fishing under an existing licence and the company that owns Captain MJ Souza has leased quota for the trial.
From a legal perspective the boat has been declared an Australian fishing vessel and as such will be treated as one.
The only difference will be increased observer coverage which will ensure the trial complies with all existing regulations.
In the last 12 months the purse seiner has fished in New Zealand waters for six months and in the west and central Pacific for six months.
It is hoped that the trial will demonstrate the unique position Eden holds at the centre of the skipjack tuna fishery (east) and this will in turn encourage greater commercial activity in Eden.
