Policy and planning

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) Fishery is formally managed under the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery Management Plan 2002. Statutory Fishing Rights (SFRs) are issued for the two target species, toothfish and mackerel icefish.

Output controls are the primary means of controlling the level of catch, and are set as annual Total Allowable Catch (TACs) for target and some bycatch species. The TACs for the target species are divided among SFR holders in proportion to their holdings for each species. Input controls are used to minimise bycatch and the impact of the HIMI Fishery on the broader marine environment.

See also

Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery

The Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery operates under the Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery Management Plan 2006 and associated legislation. Longline fishing became an approved fishing method in April 2011 following a successful trial which showed toothfish could be effectively targeted using the longline method and the adoption of a range of mitigation strategies could avoid potential interactions with seabirds.  Mitigation strategies include no offal discharge, a limited longline season, night setting and using bird scaring devices on setting and hauling of the longline.

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) New and Exploratory Fisheries

CCAMLR New and Exploratory fisheries, which occur in high seas areas in the CCAMLR region, have been informally managed through permits to date. Management arrangements for these fisheries are developed annually by AFMA in consultation with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), the Sub-Antarctic Fisheries Management Advisory Committee (SouthMAC), the Sub-Antarctic Fisheries Assessment Group (SAFAG) and the CCAMLR Consultative Forum (CCF).

New and Exploratory fisheries applications supported through this process are then subject to CCAMLR’s consideration and approval at the annual CCAMLR meeting.

Further details can be obtained from the publications page.