Bycatch and discarding

In 2005, a Ministerial Direction called for AFMA to:

  • Manage the broader environmental impacts of fishing, including protected species;
  • Minimise the incentives for discarding by ensuring it is factored into the setting of total allowable catch (TAC) levels; and
  • Enhance the monitoring of fishing activity, through increased use of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) with daily reporting, on-board cameras and improved observer coverage.

Following advice from MACs, RAGs and industry bodies with regard to bycatch and discarding targets, AFMA implemented a 3 year Bycatch and Discard Program in early 2007. In 2008 AFMA released AFMA’s Program for addressing Bycatch and Discarding in Commonwealth Fisheries: an Implementation Strategy (145kb). The bycatch and discarding program is aimed at assisting fisheries tackle bycatch and discarding issues in a focused and cost-effective way.

The Bycatch and Discard Program develops fishery specific workplans which focus on ‘high risk’ bycatch and TEP species as identified via the Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) process in accordance with the Implementation Strategy. The workplans are developed in consultation with Industry and research partners to find practical and affordable solutions.

Bycatch and Discarding Workplans
Title Size
Commonwealth Trawl Sector (Otter Board Trawl & Danish Seine) 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2013 185kb
Auto Longline Fishery, 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2011 105kb
Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery, 1 June 2009 to 31 May 2011 323kb
Coral Sea Fishery, 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2012 167kb
Australian Tuna and Billfish Fisheries, 1 December 2011 to 30 December 2013 1.4MB
Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery, 1 November 2010 to 31 October 2012 390kb
Northern Prawn Fishery, 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2011 191kb
North West Slope Fishery, 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2012 108kb
Shark Gillnet Fishery, 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2011 120kb
Small Pelagic Fishery, September 2009 227kb
South East Trawl Fishery, 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2011 116kb
Western Deep Water Trawl Fishery, 1 November 2010 to 31 October 2012 130kb
Antarctic Fisheries Bycatch Action Plan (2003) 1MB
Australia’s Tuna Purse Seine Fisheries Bycatch Action Plan (2005) 405kb
Southern Squid Jig Fishery Bycatch Action Plan (2004) 416kb
Torres Strait Prawn Fishery Bycatch Action Plan (2005) 366kb
Torres Strait Finfish Fishery Bycatch Action Plan (2005) (incorporating the Spanish mackerel and Reef-line Fisheries) 157kb
Bycatch and Discarding Final Reports
Title Size
Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery, August 2010 128kb
Reports and Publications
Title Size
At-sea testing of a submerged light BRD onboard the FV Ocean Thief for approval in Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery 813kb
At-sea testing of the Hills Nets BRD onboard the FV Dolphin Pearl for approval in Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery 5.7MB
At-sea testing of the witches hat bycatch reduction device enhancer in the Northern Prawn Fishery 513kb
Use of economic incentives to manage fisheries bycatch, August 2010 1.2MB
Chondrichthyan Guide 824kb

To find out more about bycatch and discarding contact our Environment section on 1300 723 621.