The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) received $20.1 million over 4 years in the 2021–22 Federal Budget to improve data integration and electronic vessel monitoring systems. This funding aimed to reduce the regulatory burden for industry in Commonwealth fisheries.
In 2021, AFMA commenced a Data Transformation Project and an Electronic Monitoring Project. We adopted a co-design approach to ensure both projects would benefit the industry as well as fisheries management.
Data Transformation Project
The Data Transformation Project provided a significant upgrade to the ICT systems and processes underpinning business services, enhancing the quality and timeliness of the data that informs AFMA’s evidence-based decision making.
Key deliverables include:
- development of infrastructure for the digital submission of fisheries logbook and catch disposal information from Commonwealth fishers
- development of integrated digital interfaces for AFMA’s industry-led data collection programs
- development of a field-based reporting application, enabling the real-time reporting of scientific observer data to AFMA
- enhancement of back-end processes by simplifying data flows and upgrading databases to modern cloud-based infrastructure.
Electronic Monitoring (EM) Project
Through the Electronic Monitoring (EM) Project, AFMA is expanding the use of EM across Commonwealth fisheries and investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning. 
Expanding the use of EM enables us to collect more fine-scale data and implement vessel-level management arrangements – as we have done in the longline, small pelagic and gillnet sectors, significantly reducing management measures that impact on all vessels in a fishery.
Expanded use of EM encourages best practice in the fishing industry, in areas such as protected species interactions and bycatch handling practices.
The overall aim is to extend EM into all Commonwealth fisheries. AFMA is working closely with stakeholders in each fishery to:
- determine priorities for roll-out
- inform what EM might look like for different types of fishing vessels
- meet fishery-specific data and information needs.
Discussions on a national approach to EM (as there is for Vessel Monitoring Systems) are already underway.
Protection of sensitive data
AFMA has a range of strategies to protect industry data and information. We follow the relevant government policies on data protection, guided by the Australian Privacy Principles (APP) and the Australian Government Information Security Manual.
We also review our relevant policies and procedures following any changes made through the data transformation and EM programs, and make updates as required.