This July AFMA fisheries officers will be targeting boats fishing or navigating below 5 knots in closed areas.
It is a breach of permit conditions to fish or navigating below 5 knots in a closed area. If caught fishers may be fined or prosecuted.
AFMA monitors fishing activity 24/7 via Vessel Monitoring Systems and Electronic Monitoring Systems. If a boat is found to be travelling below 5 knots in a closed area AFMA will be alerted and will investigate further.
We know that some instances of non-compliance are accidental. This can happen when fishers are not aware of all closure areas in their fishery. Closure areas are outlined in each fishery’s management booklet. Fishers should make sure they are familiar with the closures in their fishery by reviewing the relevant management arrangements booklet or contacting the AFMA fishery manager.
Electronic monitoring can also help to monitor fishing activity in closed areas by giving accurate records of when fishing gear is being used. The system automatically turns on when the boat hydraulics are started. It also helps to eliminate instances where a boat is detected crossing a closure below 5 knots but is not actually fishing.
Closures are put in place to protect the marine environment from damage and the overfishing of fish stocks. They also protect our protected species such as dolphins, sea lions and sharks.
Closures also allow species that have been overfished in the past to rebuild and recover so they can be fished in the future.
The closure rules help to protect the future sustainability of Australian fish stocks for now and for future generations.
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