Volume 5, Issue 2, 29 January 2008 [see previous editions]
Levy Invoices Update
The Federal Executive Council has approved the Fishing Levy Regulations 2008. Levy invoices for the current financial year for all fisheries will be posted over the next few months beginning in early February.
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 Securing our Fishing Future package.
To assist with your financial planning the proposed instalment dates are provided below. As in previous years, concession holders will have 28 days to pay from the date of the levy invoice. Some fisheries have two instalments.
Fishery |
Proposed Instalment Date |
|---|---|
Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery |
24 March 2008 |
Coral Sea Fishery |
14 April 2008 |
Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery |
31 March 2008 (1st instalment) |
Heard Island & McDonald Islands Fishery |
14 April 2008 (1st instalment) |
Informally Managed Fisheries |
13 March 2008 |
Macquarie Island Fishery |
02 April 2008 (1st instalment) |
Northern Prawn Fishery |
12 March 2008 |
North West Slope |
13 March 2008 |
Small Pelagic Fishery |
16 April 2008 |
Southern & Eastern Scalefish & Shark Fishery |
17 March 2008 (1st instalment) |
Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery |
09 April 2008 |
Southern Squid Jig Fishery |
26 March 2008 |
South Tasman Rise Fishery |
14 April 2008 |
Western Deep Water Trawl Fishery |
13 March 2008 |
Western Tuna & Billfish Fishery |
19 March 2008 |
Please note that these dates are a guide - levy invoices will specify the due date.
Due to the requirement to cease the permanent trade of concessions in some fisheries 14 days before a levy invoice is issued. AFMA will cease processing permanent trades until levies are paid for the following fisheries by each corresponding date.
Fishery |
Date |
|---|---|
Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery |
11 February 2008 |
Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery |
18 February 2008 |
Heard Island & McDonald Islands Fishery |
03 March 2008 |
Macquarie Island Fishery |
20 February 2008 |
Southern & Eastern Scalefish & Shark Fishery |
04 February 2008 |
Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery |
27 February 2008 |
Southern Squid Jig Fishery |
13 February 2008 |
Western Tuna & Billfish Fishery |
06 February 2008 |
If you have any questions please contact AFMA Licensing on 1300 723 621 or licensing@afma.gov.au
Notice of proposal to prepare draft Management Plan
South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network
On 28 June 2007, 13 Commonwealth reserves were declared in the South-east Marine Region of Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. These 13 reserves are known as the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network, which is made up of:
- Apollo Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Beagle Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Boags Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- East Gippsland Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Franklin Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Freycinet Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Huon Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Murray Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Nelson Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- South Tasman Rise Commonwealth Marine Reserve;
- Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve; and
- Zeehan Commonwealth Marine Reserve.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, on behalf of the Director of National Parks, proposes to prepare a draft Management Plan for the reserves of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network. Members of the public are hereby invited to comment on the proposal by 29 February 2008. Please forward your comments to:
Post: South-east Region Manager
Marine Protected Areas Management South
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Email: mpa@environment.gov.au
Please also note that comments must be sent by 29 February 2008. Comments sent after that date may not be taken into account in preparing the draft plan.
Further information about the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network, including a ‘Have Your Say’ brochure setting out key issues on which you may like to provide comment, is available online at: South-east marine region of Australia page on the DEWHA website. Copies can also be requested from the Community Information Unit on free call 1800 803 772. For further assistance please contact the South-east Region Manager on (02) 6274 1111.
