Strategic assessment

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is committed to minimising the negative environmental effects of fishing whilst enabling high quality seafood to be produced.

The Sustainable Fisheries Section of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) is responsible for the assessment of fisheries managed under Commonwealth legislation and state export fisheries in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

AFMA submits information, on its various fisheries, to the Minister of SEWPaC for assessing the ecological sustainability of management arrangements for Commonwealth fisheries.

Strategic assessments

Strategic assessments are required for all Commonwealth and Torres Strait Fisheries. The strategic assessment process must be undertaken before AFMA can determine a plan of management for a fishery. In drafting the strategic assessments there are terms of reference specific to each fishery that must be adhered to. All assessments are conducted against the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries

See: Accredited and draft Strategic Assessment Reports for Commonwealth fisheries (SEWPaC)

Calls for Comment

The strategic assessment process involves all stakeholders and the general community. There are up to two calls for public comment. The first call for comment is for creating the terms of reference used for drafting the Strategic Assessment which is no longer compulsory; the other is for the Draft Assessment Report.

See: Current calls for comment for Commonwealth and State fishery strategic assessments (SEWPaC)

Annual Status Reports

Annual Status Reports are prepared for each fishery and provided to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities as listed below.