AFMA is involved in the management of several fisheries via joint authority arrangements with Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. These consist of finfish and shark fisheries off northern Australia and a shark fishery off the south-west coast of Australia.
The joint authorities consist of the Commonwealth and the state/NT ministers responsible for fisheries, who collectively oversee the strategic direction of the fisheries. Routine management of fisheries under joint authority jurisdiction is carried out by the relevant state/NT management in accordance with its relevant fisheries legislation. There are three fisheries joint authorities:
- Queensland Fisheries Joint Authority
- Northern Territory Fisheries Joint Authority
- Western Australian Fisheries Joint Authority.
AFMA participates in the management of the fisheries through an advisory role to the Commonwealth minister and through participation in the Northern Australian Fisheries Committee.
The Queensland Fisheries Joint Authority (QFJA) has responsibility for the management of the following fisheries in all waters adjacent to Queensland:
- Gulf of Carpentaria Inshore Fin Fish Fishery
- Gulf of Carpentaria Line Fishery
- Gulf of Carpentaria Developmental Fin Fish Trawl Fishery.
These fisheries are managed in accordance with the provisions of the Queensland Fisheries Act 1994.
The annual reports below provide details on the activities of the QFJA as well as information on the status of the fisheries.
Annual Report 2019-20 (PDF 338KB)
Annual Report 2018-19 (PDF, 224KB)
Annual Report 2017-18 (PDF, 1.6MB)
The Northern Territory Fisheries Joint Authority (NTFJA) has responsibility for the management of the following fisheries in all waters adjacent to the Northern Territory:
- Timor Reef Fishery
- Demersal Fishery
- Finfish Trawl Fishery
- Offshore Net and Line Fishery.
These fisheries are managed in accordance with the provisions of the Northern Territory Fisheries Act 1988.
The reports below provide details on the activities of the NTFJA as well as information on the status of the fisheries.
Annual Report 2019-20 (PDF, 459KB)
Annual Report 2018-19 (PDF, 181KB)
Annual Report 2017-18 (PDF, 1.4MB)
The Western Australian Fisheries Joint Authority (WAFJA) has responsibility for the management of the following fisheries in waters adjacent to Western Australia:
- Southern Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Managed Fishery
- Northern Shark Fishery.
These fisheries are managed in accordance with the provisions of the Western Australian Fish Resources Management Act 1994.
The WAFJA annual reports below provide details on the activities of the WAFJA as well as information on the status of the fisheries managed by the WAFJA.
Annual Report 2019-20 (PDF, 480KB)
Annual Report 2018-19 (PDF, 185KB)
Annual Report 2017-18 (PDF, 565KB)
The Northern Australian Fisheries Committee (NAFC) is a government officials group representing the Western Australian, Northern Territory, Queensland and Commonwealth agencies responsible for the management of commercial fishing. The NAFC meets on an annual basis to consider shared issues of fisheries management, research and compliance across Northern Australia.
The terms of reference for NAFC are to:
- facilitate the sustainable management of northern fish stocks
- promote cohesive, efficient and cost effective management
- promote, where appropriate, the development of an ecosystem-based approach to management and allow for adaptive management
- ensure clarity and transparency in arrangements
- promote user friendly management to reduce administration and compliance costs for fishers
- undertake regular reviews of the management arrangements in light of developments in fisheries, fisheries management, scientific data and ecosystem influences.
The NAFC Strategic Plan outlines the Committee’s vision of the success to be achieved in northern fisheries management by 2022 and identifies a series of shorter-term objectives and strategies for achieving that vision.
The most recent NAFC meeting was held in Canberra in November 2014. A summary of this meeting will be available shortly. A summary of discussions of the previous meeting held in October 2013 are available in the Chair’s Summary.
Inter-sessional work on priority tasks is undertaken by the Northern Australian Fisheries Managers (NAFM) group. This group operates by reference from NAFC and consists of fisheries managers and scientists from the abovementioned jurisdictions. This group meets on an as needs basis. The last meeting was held in February 2011 with a focus on management approaches for shared shark stocks.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the NAFC Secretariat Don.Bromhead@afma.gov.au.