Volume 5, Issue 6, 26 March 2008 [see previous editions]
Minister Garrett announces vulnerable listing for green sawfish...
The green sawfish has now been listed as ‘vulnerable’, which means it is now illegal to kill, harm or take green sawfish in Commonwealth waters.
Fishers must record all interactions with green sawfish in the same way they record interactions with other vulnerable species.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced that the green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) had been listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
‘The green sawfish faces ongoing threats from accidental catch in fishing nets, from illegal fishing for fins and rostrums – the distinctive saw-toothed snouts – and from habitat degradation through coastal development,’ Mr Garret said.
Catch records indicate that the green sawfish may now be virtually extinct in south-east Asia. It is likely, then, that northern Australia is the last region where significant populations remain.
The green sawfish is currently listed as endangered in New South Wales waters, vulnerable in the Northern Territory and totally protected in Western Australia.
Paul Ryan, Manager of Environmental Assessments at AFMA, said the new listing meant recording interactions with green sawfish has become more important that ever.
‘We need to make sure that comprehensive records are kept. That way we can work together to ensure the survival of this species.’
AFMA Cost Reduction Working Group (CRWG)
The “AFMA Business Efficiency Review – Discussion Paper” has now been released for public comment. The paper examines the major drivers of AFMA’s fisheries management costs and identifies options for cost reductions and efficiency increases. The report is a consultation paper at this stage and is not the final position of AFMA or the Australian Government.
The discussion paper is being circulated for consultation until 16 May 2008.
The recommendations, if accepted, would lead to the long term lowering of AFMA’s cost structures. Importantly, they would also build on the best features of AFMA’s partnership model for all stakeholders and give industry a greater role in running fisheries under a co-management approach. In particular, they would change how AFMA conducts its business and industry’s role in fisheries management. The recommendations affect AFMA’s service delivery, administration, domestic compliance, governance, consultative arrangements, research and regulation. Over the next three years, they would result in efficiency gains across AFMA and reduce AFMA’s annual costs by around $3 million to industry and $2 million to the wider community.
AFMA is committed to reducing the management costs to industry to the equivalent of the 2005/06 financial year budget by 2009/10, when the levy relief under the $220 million structural adjustment package (Securing our Fishing Future) ceases. In 2005-06, the total attributable costs to industry were $13.3 million, made up of $12.4 million in levies and $0.9 million in other licensing and observer fees. The Australian Government reduced the cost of management to industry through its levy relief by $7 million in 2006/07 and $5 million in 2007/08. The industry component of management costs in 2008/09 is expected to be below $14 million before the $3 million instalment of the government’s levy subsidy.
While the reduction in industry attributed costs in the 2008/09 draft budget represents a significant initial step in lowering management costs, these savings only take AFMA part of the way to achieving its target. Further decisions on the CRWG’s cost reduction options are required if these and further savings are to be maintained into the future.
The CRWG Discussion Paper provides an ideal opportunity for broad consultation and for all stakeholders to influence the future operating environment and direction of AFMA. The views on the discussion paper and its recommendations are currently being sought before the AFMA Board makes a decision later this year on the report’s recommendations.
Please contact Dorothea Huber on (02) 6225 5381 for further information on the Discussion Paper and its recommendations.
Suggestions or comments on the report can be sent to
The Cost Reduction Working Group
Box 7051
Canberra Business Centre
Canberra ACT 2610
or E-mailed to crwg@afma.gov.au
A copy of the full CRWG Discussion Paper is available on AFMA’s website at www.afma.gov.au.
AFMA represented at Queenscliff
AFMA was this year represented at the Queenscliff Seafood Feast, helping to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The Queenscliff Seafood Feast, this year held on 21 March, is an annual event, now 8 years old, that is run by the Kiwanis Club of Geelong and raises money for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
An estimated 12,000 people attended in 2007 and attendees say this year’s event was even bigger again.
LEFCOL, Seafood Industry Victoria, the Victorian Government’s Marine Discovery Centre, Surf Lifesaving Australia, St Johns Ambulance and Rotary International also attended.
Nigel Catchlove, who represented AFMA along with Rocco Ciccosillo, said the event was a great success and AFMA was looking forward to the 2009 event.
‘The whole community gets involved, which is fantastic; it produces great results in fundraising terms as well as raising awareness of seafood industry issues.’
‘We’re very excited that industry was represented so well.’
‘Next year should be even bigger.’
