Volume 7, Issue 2, 3 February 2010 [see previous editions]
Porbeagle, Shortfin Mako and Longfin Mako Shark listed as migratory species
On 29 January 2010, Porbeagle, Shortfin Mako and Longfin Mako sharks were listed as migratory species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
The listing is a legal requirement under the EPBC Act following the inclusion of the species on Appendix II to the international Convention on Migratory Species.
Under the EPBC Act, it is an offence to kill injure or take a member of a migratory species.
The EPBC Act provides an exemption to these offence provisions where species are caught in accordance with management arrangements accredited under Part 13 of the Act. Fishers will not be committing an offence when a listed migratory species is killed, injured, traded or taken, where they are acting in accordance with accredited management arrangements.
To be accredited, management arrangements must require all persons engaged in fishing to take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of a listed migratory species are not killed or injured as a result of fishing.
The Delegate for the Minister for the Environment Heritage and the Arts has reviewed existing accreditations and decided that they are adequate following the listing of these sharks as migratory species.
A key issue for commercial fishers that has been addressed is whether sharks that are already dead need to be returned to the sea (it is clear that live-caught sharks must be returned). So long as management arrangements require all reasonable steps to be taken to avoid their take and provide for adequate compliance measures to ensure live-caught sharks are released without further harm, sharks that are dead on capture can be retained.
Fishers catching these sharks must include them in their logbooks, whether the sharks are retained or released.
Logbook data, along with other fisheries data, will provide important information on levels of interaction to improve understanding of the species in Australian waters and to indicate whether additional measures are required, as part of the ongoing assessment process, to minimise levels of mortality. In line with the Memorandum of Understanding between AFMA and DEWHA, AFMA will report catches to DEWHA on a quarterly basis.
For further information, please contact Paul Ryan, Manager, Environmental Assessments on (02) 6225 5366 or paul.ryan@afma.gov.au.
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February 2010 12 SESSF 2009/10 3rd quarter reconciliation 17 Northern Prawn Fishery Industry meeting (Brisbane) 18-19 Northern Prawn Fishery Management Advisory Committee (NORMAC) (Brisbane) 18 AFMA Commission Audit and Risk Comittee (Canberra) 22-23 AFMA Commission meeting (Canberra) |
GOFish outage notification
AFMA is completing a systems upgrade on 16 and 17 February 2010.
Please note that this will mean GOFish, AFMA’s online business facility and licensing service, will be unavailable during this time.
If you require assistance, or for more information relating to transactions, please contact AFMA Licensing on 1300 723 621.
Northern Prawn Fishery moves to GOFish
The existing database for the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) is currently being migrated into AFMA's new licensing database, PISCES.
This will give NPF concession holders access to their concession details and the ability to complete transactions online through the GOFish portal from the start of the 2010 fishing season.
To enable this migration to occur smoothly, we request that NPF concession holders complete all transactions for the current 2009 fishing season by 15 February 2010.
For further information, please contact AFMA Licensing on 1300 723 621.
Last chance: National Seafood Industry Leadership Program
Nominations for the annual National Seafood Industry Leadership Program 2010 close on 8 February 2010.
The program, now in its ninth year, is designed for people wishing to take up leadership roles within the seafood industry. It is delivered through funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), and run by Rural Training Initiatives Pty Ltd.
The National Seafood Industry Leadership Program is the only national industry-specific leadership program, and was initially designed in consultation with seafood industry people. There are now in excess of ninety graduates of all ages and from all sectors of the industry including processing, fishing, extension, exporters, importers, marketing, deckhands and employees.
This year's program will be delivered through three residential sessions:
First Residential: 30 March - 1 April 2010 – Hobart
Second Residential: 29 June - 1July 2010 – Sydney
Third Residential: 21 -23 September 2010 – Canberra
To download the program outline and application forms, visit the Rural Training Initiatives website.
For more information, please contact Jill Briggs, Rural Training Initiatives, on (02) 6035 7284
or
0409 455 710.
Other fishery updates
ANTARCTIC FISHERIES
Extension to Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery longline season
The AFMA Commission has approved an extended longline season in the Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery (MITF) for the 2010 fishing season.
The extension of the longline season in the MITF was initially agreed to for three years, finishing in 2009, and this approval extends the fishing season for a fourth year.
For further information about the Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery, please contact Peter Neave, Manager Antarctic Fisheries, on (02) 6225 5302 or peter.neave@afma.gov.au.
BASS STRAIT CENTRAL ZONE SCALLOP FISHERY (BSCZSF)
Scallop Management Advisory Committee (ScallopMAC)
ScallopMAC met in Melbourne on 12-13 January 2010 to consider management arrangements for the 2010 BSCZSF fishing season, including total allowable catches (TACs) for the fishery.
Prior to ScallopMAC, a public meeting was held to better inform ScallopMAC members about operators’ views on the management of the fishery.
ScallopMAC recommended a 3,000 t TAC for Commercial Scallops and 100 t for Doughboy Scallops. These recommendations will be provided to the AFMA Commission, together with recommendations from the Scallop Resource Assessment Group (ScallopRAG) and operator’s views, to assist in determining TACs at their February 2010 meeting. All operators will be advised of the outcome.
For further information, please contact Natalie Couchman, Senior Management Officer, on (02) 6225 5520
or natalie.couchman@afma.gov.au
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SOUTHERN AND EASTERN SCALEFISH AND SHARK FISHERY (SESSF)
South East Management Advisory Committee (SEMAC)
SEMAC met on 28-29 January 2010. SEMAC discussed and provided recommendations on the total allowable catch (TAC) for each quota species in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) for the 2010/2011 fishing season.
SEMAC’s recommendations, advice from each individual Resource Assessment Group, and industry comments will be provided to the AFMA Commission when they determine the TACs at their meeting in February 2010.
Papers tabled at SEMAC can be found on the AFMA website.
For more information, please contact Beth Gibson, Senior Manager Demersal and Midwater Trawl Fisheries, on (02) 6225 5555 or beth.gibson@afma.gov.au
