We are the Australian Government agency responsible for the efficient management and sustainable use of Commonwealth fish resources on behalf of the Australian community. We manage and monitor commercial Commonwealth fishing to ensure Australian fish stocks and our fishing industry are viable now and in the future. By doing so, we are aiming to make healthy and fresh local seafood available and affordable to all Australians for current and future generations.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) invites persons and/or organisations interested in being notified of information about draft management plans to have their names and postal addresses entered, or in the case of existing entries, have their names and postal addresses remain, on a register kept by AFMA for such purposes. Management plans are developed under section 17 of the Fisheries Management Act 1991. Persons or organisations wishing to accept this invitation to register their interest should do so in writing. Acceptances are to be sent to:

Recently, Fishery Officers from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) shared the dangers of illegal fishing in the Australian Fishing Zone with over 180 Indonesian fishers in a series of educational workshops as a part of a bilateral partnership to stop illegal foreign fishing at its source.

An indexed listing of the files created within AFMA.

Representatives from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) are attending the Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The IMCS Network, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, will hold the 7th Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop (GFETW) from 31 July to 4 August 2023. AFMA representatives will join 180 delegates from 52 countries for this event.  

In line with the Department of Finance Cost Recovery Guidelines, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority has reviewed and updated its Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) for 2023-24. AFMA’s CRIS describes how we will charge fishing concession holders for the management of Commonwealth fisheries. Our 2023-24 cost recovered budget has been prepared in accordance with this statement.

AFMA deploys observers on a variety of commercial fishing vessels in and out of the Australian Fishing Zone domestically and internationally. The primary functions of the role include: