- Fisheries A to Z index
- Antarctic Fisheries
- Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery
- Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands Fisheries
- Coral Sea Fishery
- Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery
- High Seas Permits
- Norfolk Island Fishery
- North West Slope Trawl Fishery
- Northern Prawn Fishery
- Skipjack Tuna Fisheries
- Small Pelagic Fishery
- Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery
- Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery
- Southern Squid Jig Fishery
- South Tasman Rise
- Torres Strait Fisheries
- Western Deepwater Trawl Fishery
- Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery
- Environment and sustainability
- Harvest strategies
- Compliance activities
- Data collection
- Consultation
Strategic assessment
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is committed to minimising the negative environmental effects of fishing whist 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 Act (EPBCA).
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.
- Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (460kb)
- CCAMLR New and Exploratory Fisheries (2.4MB)
- Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery 2008
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery (394kb)
- Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery (910kb)
- Northern Prawn Fishery (59kb)
- Skipjack Tuna Fishery (347kb)
- Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery (605kb)
Hot Topics
- Zone D gillnet closure to further protect Australian Sea Lions
- Continuation of Measures to Protect Dolphins in the Gillnet Sector of the SESSF
- Levies still due while disallowance motion considered
- Re-assessment of export approval for the Western Trawl Fisheries
- Comment invited on draft Torres Strait Finfish Fishery Strategic Assessment
- Submissions received on the draft Northern Prawn Fishery Management Plan 2012
Latest News
- Keep your VMS switched on
- Rebuilding plan for Southern Bluefin Tuna
- Seabird management plans
- Changes in the Gillnet, Hook and Trap Sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery to Protect Dolphins
- Expect to be inspected
- AFMA and Anindilyakwa Sea Rangers
- Domestic Compliance and Enforcement Program
- Draft Shark Plan 2
- Changes in the Gillnet, Hook and Trap Sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery
- Longlining TAC set for Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery
