Seiner’s and Everard Horseshoe Closures

28 May 2010

AFMA has implemented an emergency direction re-instating closures in the Seiner’s and Everard horseshoe areas. The original direction implementing these closures expired on 30 April 2010. The new direction Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (Closures) Direction No. 1 2010 took effect on 25 May 2010 and is due to expire on 17 December 2010. These closures apply to all methods.

The Seiner’s and Everard horseshoes closures were initially formalised by AFMA on a temporary basis until April 2010, with the intent of reducing Pink Ling catches and assisting to prevent overfishing. After this period, the effectiveness of the closures was to be reviewed with respect to meeting this objective. A workshop to review these closures for Pink Ling is scheduled for June 2010.

During 2009 and 2010 the Seiner’s and Everard horseshoes were also identified by scientists and industry as potentially important areas for Harrisson’s and / or Southern Dogfish. The AFMA Commission and the South East Management Advisory Committee supported the closures as part of Stage 1 of the Upper-Slope Dogfish Management Strategy (the strategy) that is due to be implemented by 30 June 2010.

There is a gap of up to two months from 30 April 2010 when the original direction expired and 30 June 2010 when closures for upper-slope dogfish are due to be implemented. As these closures are still to be reviewed with respect to Pink Ling and given their potential to protect upper-slope dogfish, AFMA considered it precautionary to re-instate the closures as of 25 May 2010 to ensure they were not fished.

With respect to upper-slope dogfish, the intent is to review the Seiner’s and Everard horseshoe closures during 2010 as results from CSIRO’s dogfish research project become available and a broader network of closures is developed.  It is a requirement of the SESSF Wildlife Trade Operation accreditation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, to have long-term closures implemented for upper-slope dogfish by 17 December 2010.

If you require further clarification on this matter please contact Shane Gaddes, Manager, Gillnet, Hook and Trap Fishery, on 02 6225 5347.

Documents
Letter to concession holders (19kb)
Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (Closures) Direction No. 1 2010 – Prohibition on Fishing
Seiner’s and Everard Horseshoe Closure Map (21kb)
Seiner’s and Everard Horseshoe Closure Locational Map (12kb)