The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is reminding all operators in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF) of changes to Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) zone arrangements for the 2016 season.
Changes have been made to ensure SBT is fished with quota in the ETBF supported by the use of mandatory electronic monitoring (e-monitoring) in the fishery.
SBT is a valuable shared resource and it is important that operators follow the rules to ensure that all catch of SBT is monitored and recorded.
New arrangements for 2016
- Only a single SBT zone is instituted, there are no core or buffer zones.
- Operators must hold uncaught SBT quota to enter the zone.
- E-monitoring is mandatory and must be fully functional on-board vessels.
- When in the zone operators must carry a minimum of 50 CCSBT catch documentation scheme (CDS) tags on-board the vessel.
- Operators are required to accurately complete the CCSBT Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS) logbooks to enable export of SBT.
- SBT zone location will be reviewed and updated weekly. Operators are responsible for knowing the location of the zone.
SBT zone current location
AFMA will notify changes of the SBT zone to operators via a message sent to their vessel monitoring system (VMS) and the location of zone will also be update on afma.gov.au. It is the responsibility of the operator to know the location of the SBT zone at all times.
The location of the new SBT zone commences at latitude 37°30’S, longitude 150°23.50 and extends due east
For more information on SBT zones and arrangements download the information pack or visit afma.gov.au.