25 September 2015

The Commission met in Canberra on 26-27 August 2015. The meeting was preceded by AFMA’s Annual Public Meeting, which provided the opportunity for Commissioners to meet with attendees from industry and government and discuss AFMA performance in 2014-15 and future directions for management of Commonwealth fisheries. Download a of the AFMA public meeting presentation (PDF, 839 KB).

Key decisions taken by the Commission at its meeting

Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) – Autonomous Adjustment

  • The Commission noted the findings of the NORMAC convened Autonomous Adjustment Workshop in July 2015 and advice from NORMAC.
  • The Commission agreed to amend the NPF Management Plan to improve structural adjustment in the fishery by:
  1. removing the 100 gear statutory fishing rights (Gear SFRs) minimum holding for a Class B (boat) SFR;
  2. including a provision to initiate a compulsory surrender of Gear SFRs in equal proportion (%) across all holders if the combined trigger (described in the NPF Harvest Strategy) is reached in three consecutive years; and
  3. including compulsory surrender trigger points.
    • These amendments will be implemented by AFMA working with NORMAC as part of the review of the NPF Management Plan in 2015-16, following final consideration by the Commission.
    • The Commission also indicated that as part of this review, it would consider its approach towards supporting longer term stability of the gear based ITE system in the NPF to provide confidence for investment and further industry consolidation.

Revision of Fisheries Management Paper 1 (FMP1) on Management Advisory Committees

  • The Commission endorsed the revised FMP1, noting some minor amendments, as the policy and management arrangements for AFMA’s Management Advisory Committees.
  • The revised FMP1 had been considered and where appropriate, had incorporated stakeholder comments. It will be published on the AFMA website shortly.

Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) – TAC setting for the 2016 Season

  • The Commission determined the Australian national catch allocation under the Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery Management Plan 1995 (the Plan) for the fishing season commencing on 1 December 2015 and ending on 30 November 2016 to be 5,665 tonnes.
  • The Commission also determined the actual live weight of a statutory fishing right and the undercatch/overcatch percentages for the season commencing on 1 December 2015 under the Plan.
  • These decisions were all assessed and determined to be compatible with human rights.

Other items

  • The Commission also considered how they would receive scientific advice about the Small Pelagic Fishery and how stakeholders are involved in that process. The Commission is continuing to consider its options.
  • The Commission discussed a number of fisheries management developments including AFMA strategies and those of other agencies for managing high risk and overfished species, as well as interactions with protected species; outcomes from recent meetings of RAGs and MACs; and the status of financial and human resources in AFMA. In considering future strategic directions for AFMA, the Commission noted the importance of effective engagement with stakeholders through a wide range of communications tools including links with other interested groups to promote increased understanding of industry operations and the sustainability of Commonwealth fisheries.
  • Commissioners also met with senior officials from the Department of Agriculture to discuss tuna fishery management, stakeholder interests in various fisheries and the current review of the Commonwealth Fisheries, Bycatch and Harvest Strategy policies.

 

Norman Moore
Chairman

25 September 2015