The Commission met in Melbourne on 26-27 October 2016. This was the first Commission meeting since the appointment (Ms Renata Brooks) and reappointment (Mr Richard Stevens, Prof Keith Sainsbury and Mr Ian Cartwright) process in September 2016.
Key decisions taken by the Commission at its meeting included:
- ERA/ERM Revitalisation Project
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AFMA has been progressing the Ecological Risk Management (the ERM Guide) through reviews by MACs, RAGs and other agencies. A final draft of the ERM Guide and associated policy document and communications strategy are intended to be provided to the Commission at its first meeting in 2017.
The Commission also endorsed AFMA’s approach to development of the ERM Guide and to its future implementation. In addition, the Commission agreed to the formation of a Steering Committee to oversee progress on the formulation of the ERM Guide and its implementation.
- Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery – Yellowfin Overcatch Allowance Increase
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The Commission did not agree to the proposal from the Tropical Tuna Management Advisory Committee (TTMAC) to increase the total allowable catch (TAC) overcatch allowance to enable increased take of yellowfin tuna above the current limits during the remainder of the 2016-17 season.
- Southern Squid Jig Fishery (SSJF) – Total Allowable Effort for 2017
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The Commission agreed to set the total allowable effort for the SSJF 2017 fishing season including an allowance for research effort.
- Management Advisory Committee (MAC) Appoinments
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The Commission agreed to appoint a new industry member on the Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery MAC; a new research member on Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery MAC; and a replacement recreational/charter fishing member on Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery MAC. The Commission also noted the appointment of an interim scientific member on the Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery MAC.
- Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery (SBTF) – Total allowable catch (TAC) setting for the 2017 season
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The Commission agreed to determine the next fishing season in the SBTF to be the period commencing 1 December 2016 and ending on 30 November 2017; determine the Australian national catch allocation for that fishing season; determine the actual live weight of a statutory fishing right in the SBTF; determine undercatch/overcatch percentages for the 2017 season; and also agreed to continue the use of the 100 fish sample based transfer weighing procedure to estimate the transfer weight of Southern Bluefin Tuna.
- Risk Management
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Commissioners agreed that AFMA’s revised Risk Management Policy now provided an appropriate overarching document for other institutional, financial and compliance specific risk management plans.
The Commission also discussed the outcomes of recent management advisory committee and resource assessment group meetings; current catch rates in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery; AFMA’s fisheries economics work plan; the introduction of a new reporting template for Commonwealth fishing industry associations; and the roles of the Commission and AFMA Chief Executive Officer.
Norman Moore
Chairman
November 2016