Transcript Document
Small Pelagic Fishery Management Update By: Dr Nick Rayns, Executive Manager, Fisheries March 2015 Some recent quotes from conservation & recreation speakers about the Small Pelagic Fishery A permanent ban on factory freezer trawlers Better protection of our fisheries Follow expert advice Best use of the fishery Look after our marine environment Secure the future of our fisheries If we agree on so much why are we disagreeing? Our perspectives and expectations are different Management, science, conservation & recreational fishing presentations will be made today Importantly, can stakeholders describe what ‘good’ looks like? Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources afma.gov.au Current Commonwealth Fisheries Management AFMA must, by law, make science-based decisions AFMA must comply with the levels of acceptable risk stated in government fisheries policy AFMA must comply with the statutory fisheries management plan & the fishing rights it grants, and other legislation The fishing industry and AFMA must take all reasonable measures to minimise ‘TEP’ interactions And, within this, be responsive and adaptable as we can. Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources afma.gov.au SPF and Ecosystem Issues Small pelagic species are important in the marine ecosystem but make up only a small part of the biomass and we are only harvesting four of this species group In SE Australia marine predators are able to switch prey when small pelagic species are less abundant or less available The Australian sea lion and shy albatross are nearthreatened species so mitigation measures are required to protect them Some marine mammal populations are healthy while others have an uncertain status, particularly dolphins, so measures that help avoid interactions are required. Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources afma.gov.au Key attributes of Small Pelagic Fishery Management A resource assessment group and management advisory committee comprised of key stakeholders advise the AFMA Commission All species the fishery interacts with have been through a risk assessment process There are comprehensive Vessel Monitoring, Compliance, Logbook and Observer programs The fishery has had historic and current fishery surveys, an annual fishery assessment and stock-based catch limits Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources afma.gov.au In Summary AFMA and the Commonwealth fishing industry work within a well defined legal and policy framework AFMA will always make decisions consistent with law and policy The standard of fisheries management applied to the SPF exceeds that of most other commercial and recreational fisheries For most Australians (and those overseas) to safely eat a variety of sustainable seafood from Australia, commercial scale harvesting using freezer boats is necessary. Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources afma.gov.au So, have we been listening? • Tony and Tim will present on new science that will lead to changes in total allowable commercial catches these catches share the fish between all users & the ecosystem • Mike will present the draft Vessel Management Plan (VMP) that sets out measures to manage marine mammal and seabird interactions, and monitoring the Expert Panel’s advice has been considered along with other expert advice in developing the VMP Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources afma.gov.au Have we been listening some more? • Significant localised depletion is regarded as unlikely to occur given the catch levels set and the mobility of the species fishing a stock very hard is the only real way to find out if localised depletion would occur and we have no plans to do that a separate east coast Tasmanian stock of jack mackerel? Manage conservatively – assume one stock & use survey evidence the surface schools disappeared many years ago, but why - climate or fishing? The eastern jack mackerel survey suggests the stock is in a healthy state & probably climate is the cause Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources afma.gov.au Have we been listening even more? • Consultation is now through MACs, RAGs, eNGO, recreational fishing and specific fishery meetings such as this SPF Forum and we’re open to new ideas • Public reporting has increased and is balanced with privacy and commercial law and policy we will be publicly reporting all TEP interactions real time monitoring of catches to AFMA will occur catches will be reported by agreed spatial management we won’t be publicly reporting the boat’s position in real time. Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources afma.gov.au