SESSF Direction No. 1 2012: Gillnet closure to further protect Australian Sea Lions (ASL)

AFMA has closed an area of the Australian Sea Lion Management Zone (Zone A) to gillnet methods from 6 February 2012 through SESSF Direction No. 1 2012. The closure is being implemented under AFMA’s Australian Sea Lion Management Strategy and is due to the maximum allowable bycatch of sea lions for that zone being reached. The closure will remain in force until 15 May 2013.

 Click on the links below for further information or see the Q and As on this page.

Questions and Answers

Q. How does AFMA’s Australian Sea Lion Management Strategy (the Strategy) work?

AFMA’s Australian Sea Lion Management Strategy (details here) establishes seven management zones across South Australia, each of which represents an area of Australian Sea Lion habitat and a number of breeding colonies. The Strategy sets a maximum trigger limit for each of these zones based on the number of Australian Sea Lions living there and an acceptable level of mortality per fishing year that will allow the population of Australian Sea Lions to rebuild.

Q. Why is AFMA closing Zone A of the Australian Sea Lion Management Zone?

AFMA, in consultation with stakeholders including the Australian Sea Lion Working Group, published revised management zones and maximum bycatch triggers on 17 January 2012 (details here). The revised management measures state that any Australian Sea Lion mortality that occurs during each fishing season, including any retrospective mortalities from this current fishing year (1 May 2011 – 30 April 2012), will count towards the maximum bycatch triggers. The revised bycatch trigger for Zone A of the Australian Sea Lion Management Strategy is one Australian Sea Lion. An Australian Sea Lion mortality from gillnet fishing occurred on 15 November 2011, meaning that the bycatch trigger for this area has been reached, resulting in the closure of this zone.

Q. How long will the closure last for?

The closure to protect Australian Sea Lions in this area will come into effect from 6 February 2012 to 15 May 2013. The closure lasts for 18 months (the approximate breeding cycle of the Australian Sea Lion) from the date of the interaction which occurred on 15 November 2011.

 Q. Will other fishing methods be allowed in this area during the Direction?

Direction No. 1 2012 excludes all fishing with gillnets in this area for the duration of the Direction. Consistent with the existing management arrangements, eligible operators who hold a gillnet fishing concession with a history of fishing in Australian Sea Lion habitat will continue to have the option to fish using hooks in this area instead of gillnets.

Q. How will AFMA monitor compliance with this closure?

Operators fishing in the gillnet sector of the SESSF have been given written notice of the implementation of this closure. AFMA will monitor compliance with this closure through its mandatory Vessel Monitoring Systems that give real time position information. AFMA also requires 100 per cent monitoring of all gillnet fishing operations in South Australian waters (inclusive of all Australian Sea Lion habitat) using either onboard scientific observers or Electronic Monitoring Systems.