Volume 5, Issue 13, 17 June 2008 [see previous editions]
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VMS: The next step…
Are you meeting your obligations?
1 July 2008 will mark the first full year of the integrated computer vessel monitoring system (ICVMS or VMS) program.
From 1 July 2007, all vessels fishing in Commonwealth waters were required to have a VMS unit fitted and operational.
The VMS program has been a great success and, for the most part, fishers have complied with compulsory VMS requirements.
Take a minute to ask yourself; am I complying with VMS requirements? Which one of the following criteria applies to you?
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The vessel nominated to my concession is fitted with an approved and operating ICVMS being monitored by AFMA.
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I am in possession of a current notice from AFMA authorising a temporary arrangement; the vessel nominated to my concession is not required to be fitted with an approved and operating ICVMS.
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The ICVMS concession conditions attached to my concession have been varied and I am meeting the requirements of those new conditions
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AFMA has authorised a ‘Temporary Switch Off’ (TSO) for the vessel nominated to my concession.
If none of these criteria apply to you, or you cannot be sure that any of them apply to you, you may be operating in breach of your concession conditions.
Unfortunately, there are a number of commercial fishers who have knowingly failed to comply with VMS requirements and these fishers will be the target of a special AFMA compliance campaign during July and August.
Operators of vessels nominated to Commonwealth concessions not meeting AFMA’s VMS requirements may be subject to enforcement action.
AFMA compliance officers will be checking VMS data against log book data to ensure consistency and will be checking data signals to ensure VMS units are on and working.
Compliance officers will also be visiting a number of ports and harbours to check that Commonwealth fishing vessels are fitted with VMS units.
If you have any doubts about your VMS status you should act now and contact AFMA VMS staff on 1300 723 621 as soon as possible.
Take this opportunity to call AFMA and check that your VMS is working now.
AFMA Online Licensing
AFMA’s online licensing project is well and truly underway. The project is successfully meeting deadlines and is on course for launch this year.
After consultation with MACs and industry associations, an industry focus group has been formed and will help AFMA refine user interface and functions.
The focus group will meet in Canberra in the next couple of weeks with further meetings planned for later this year.
Online licensing is one of AFMA’s key 2008 goals; combining online license renewal, quota management and vessel and license management.
This will make license and quota management easier and simpler for commercial fishing operators.
As part of the development of online licensing, AFMA is undertaking a program of public consultation which will include the online licensing focus group, MACs, RAGs and other industry representatives.
If you would like to take part in the public consultation process, please do not hesitate to contact Heidi Prislan at heidi.prislan@afma.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can contact a member of your MAC executive who can pass your comments or queries on to AFMA staff.
AFMA Board Meeting
On Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June the AFMA Board will hold its final meeting for the 2007-08 Financial Year. It is expected that this will be the last AFMA Board Meeting before AFMA transitions to a commission structure.
The transition is largely a legislative change and is not expected to impact on operators.
Under the new commission structure AFMA will continue to work toward the same key goals in 2008-09 including:
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The implementation of online licensing to create a simpler and less time-consuming process for Commonwealth fishing license renewals
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Increased implementation of co-management arrangements to reduce the regulatory burden on operators
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The introduction of e-logs to improve the accuracy and efficiency of record keeping for effort, catch and disposal
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Ongoing internal cost reduction to lower general operating costs at AFMA
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Ongoing compliance operations at Australia’s borders to reduce incidences of illegal foreign fishing
We look forward to working with the Commonwealth fishing industry to achieve these goals.
SBT Core and Buffer Zones 2008
Following the first capture of southern bluefin tuna off the east coast of Australia, the SBT Zones have been instituted in the ETBF for 2008.
The operation of the SBT zones in 2008 is similar to 2007 whereby the current location of the SBT zones is posted on the AFMA website and provides details of other arrangements that must be complied with.
Alternatively an update on the location of the SBT zones can be obtained by contacting the ETBF manager on (02) 6225 5313.
If you have any questions regarding the management arrangements associated with the SBT zones please contact Trent Timmiss on (02) 6225 5313.
