To minimise the risk of Southern bluefin tuna (SBT) being taken without quota off the east coast of Australia, in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF), AFMA annually implements core and buffer zones for restricted access in the fishery. This year’s SBT Zones have now been introduced in the ETBF to coincide with the annual migration of SBT up the east coast.
The AFMA website has details of the core and buffer zones as well as the arrangements commercial fishers must comply with when fishing in the ETBF.
It is the responsibility of the operators to know the location of these zones. Zone locations are reviewed weekly – generally every Tuesday with updates available on the AFMA website and notifications sent to operators via vessel monitoring system (VMS) messaging within 24 hours.
Boats are required to have uncaught SBT quota to enter the zones. This year, with the introduction of e-monitoring, boats are not required to carry additional human observers. Monitoring the SBT zones with e-monitoring is expected to save industry up to $90 000 this year, whilst still ensuring no SBT are discarded.
If you have any questions regarding the management arrangements associated with the SBT zones please contact Steve Auld, Manager Tropical Tuna Fisheries, on (02) 6225 5306 or email steve.auld@afma.gov.au.