Statement released 28 April 2015
On 28 April 2015, the Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie made claims against the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) regarding its management of the Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF). Mr Wilkie has reportedly referred those claims to the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
AFMA will cooperate with any inquiry by the Ombudsman into these claims. However, AFMA is confident that the total allowable catches (TACs) for the SPF are being lawfully set and that the associated advisory processes are also being lawfully undertaken.
The independent AFMA Commission, which decides TACs for all Commonwealth fisheries, will consider advice from the Small Pelagic Fishery Resource Assessment Group, the South East Management Advisory Committee and any other relevant advice before setting SPF TACs for the 2015-16 season. Resource assessment groups and management advisory committee members can include commercial and recreational fishers, scientists and researchers, state and territory governments, conservation groups and AFMA fishery managers.
The Commission will set the TACs for the Small Pelagic Fishery later this week.