The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is reminding Commonwealth operators that Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) units must remain switched on at all times. Any vessel with its VMS system switched off, where the operator has not notified us, may be required to return to, or remain in port, until such time that we can investigate, and the issue is resolved. We understand that VMS units may need to be switched off for a range of reasons including placing the boat on the slip for maintenance or tying it up for a break.

Annual reports provide information about our operations and performance in each financial year.   View the accessible report View the 2022–23 Annual report webpage (this is an accessible version on transparency.gov.au).

This is a joint media statement between Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Australian Border Force A one-kilometre-long ghost net has been removed from the Torres Strait in a joint operation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), Maritime Border Command (MBC) and Australian Border Force (ABF). 

Australia’s Commonwealth fisheries are some of the best managed fisheries in the world.  The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is committed to sustainably and responsibly managing our 22 Commonwealth fisheries and over 90 commercially important species including tuna, squid, flathead, gummy shark, tropical rock lobster, scallops, and prawns. 

In the 2023 APS Employee Census, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) saw significant positive improvement across all major indices. In the 2023 action plan, AFMA will continue to consolidate and maintain areas of progress from the previous year’s results, while focusing on three (3) identified priority areas.

AFMA’s end-of-year office shutdown period is from close of business 22 December 2023 to 1 January 2024 inclusive.