The Australian Fisheries Management Authority has released its National Compliance and Enforcement Program for 2015-16. The Program sets the direction for AFMA’s domestic compliance and enforcement activities for this financial year.
AFMA has a strict compliance regime in place to help ensure that our fisheries resources are managed sustainably.
“Illegal fishing jeopardises the very rules and regulations we have in place to ensure that current and future generations have a healthy supply of Australian seafood,” AFMA’s General Manager of Fisheries Operations, Mr Peter Venslovas said.
“AFMA’s fisheries officers, together with other Commonwealth agencies and our state and territory counterparts, use a range of programs to address high risk issues and to efficiently deter illegal fishing in the Australian Fishing Zone.”
In 2015-16, the issues identified as high risk are quota evasion and monitoring system (VMS and e-monitoring) compliance. Dedicated teams have been established to work at addressing these risks throughout the year using the variety of tools at their disposal.
To ensure compliance more generally, the program also includes a comprehensive communication and education program, along with an infield general deterrence program of inspections, patrols and surveillance.
The program can be found at afma.gov.au.