Earlier this month, officers from AFMA and a range of other Australian government departments attended a series of annual Torres Strait Treaty Cycle Meetings, held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The 1985 treaty outlines the boundaries between the two countries and provides a framework for the management of the common border area.
The Treaty recognises the importance of protecting the traditional way of life and livelihoods of traditional inhabitants, including their traditional fishing and free movement in the Torres Strait area.
The primary outcome of the meetings was agreeing to catch sharing arrangements for tropical rock lobster. The continuing cooperation between Australia and PNG to combat illegal fishing was also a key focus.
For more information, please contact Katie Scutt, Senior Management Officer, Northern Fisheries on 07 4069 1990 or katie.scutt@afma.gov.au.