Volume 5, Issue 10, 6 May 2008 [see previous editions]
Lakes Entrance Co-management Trial
On Thursday 1 May 2008, AFMA staff joined members of the fishing industry at Lakes Entrance to formally launch the Lakes Entrance Co-management Trial.
The 12 month trial of new fisheries management and administrative arrangements will run from 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2009. Lakes Entrance is the largest source of supply of fresh fish to the Melbourne Wholesale Fish Market.
The aim of the trial is for AFMA and industry to work together in designing and testing a shared approach to fisheries management and administration. Co-management involves more decision making and greater responsibility for the fishing industry and more innovation and flexibility from AFMA.
Glenn Hurry, Managing Director of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) described the trial at Lakes Entrance as an opportunity for AFMA and the fishers at Lakes Entrance to demonstrate, in a practical sense, that by working together we can sensibly manage our fisheries resources.
‘The trial gives us an opportunity to simplify regulation and business practices and improve the relationship between AFMA and industry’, said Glenn.
Any Commonwealth endorsed fishers in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, who operate from Lakes Entrance can take part in the trial.
A briefing session at Lakes Entrance was held on 1 May 2008 which provided details of the trial. The trial was officially started by Peter Clarke, Chairman of the Lakes Entrance Fishermen's Co-operative Society and Paul Murphy, AFMA’s Operations General Manager. A host of other fishers who are taking part in the trial were also present including Ted Jones from the Lakes Entrance Danish Seine Unit Trust.
Co-management of Commonwealth fisheries is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government.
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The SESSF 2008 Management Arrangement Booklet is now available on the AFMA website. The booklet was distributed to SESSF concession holders in the week beginning 28 April 2008 in preparation for the 2008 fishing season that started on 1 May 2008. The booklet is available via the following link and is intended as a guide only. |
Small Pelagic Fishery Code of Practice
The Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF) Purse Seine Industry Code of Practice was recently endorsed by the Industry members of the SPF Management Advisory Committee after consultation with SPF operators, the SPF Resource Assessment Group, and the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. The Code of Practice is already operational within the management of the SPF. Copies of the code were sent to all SPF operators on 17 April 2008.
If you have not received a copy of the code and would like one, please contact SPFMAC Industry Member Denis Brown at trogan1@bigpond.net.au
SESSF end of season procedures
Concession holders in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) should be aware of requirements and responsibilities for the end of the 2007 SESSF fishing season. All Catch Disposal Records for the 2007 season need to be returned to AFMA as per the conditions listed on the inside cover of your catch disposal book. There are a number of critical dates in May and June that you need to be aware of:
14 May 2008 – AFMA will be issuing a Quota Transaction Statement Package to all concession holders. Catch Disposal Records for 2007 not returned to AFMA will not be included on the statement. You should include these when reconciling your statement.
AFMA requires that all concession holders/operators have sufficient quota to cover any catches for the 2007 season by leasing in additional quota or by ensuring that any overquota position does not exceed the allowed percentage of 10% (excluding school shark, gummy shark, elephant fish and saw shark, for which the overcatch percentage is set at 0%)
30 May 2008 – All seasonal trading (leasing), including that to cover any over catch, closes at 5PM Eastern Standard Time.
30 June 2008 – AFMA will conduct undercatch / overcatch calculations for the 2007 SESSF season. Please also note that to receive your undercatch (carry-over) on your 2007 holdings for utilisation in the 2008 SESSF season, you must hold at least one Statutory Fishing Right / Individually Transferable Quota Unit for that species on this date.
If you have and questions regarding any end of season procedures, please call Licensing and Quota Management on AFMA Direct, 1300 723 621.
