Transcript Have we been listening even more?

On Tuesday, 24 March 2015 a forum for recreational fishing and
conservation stakeholders was held in Hobart.
Presentations were given by:
• Dr Nick Rayns, AFMA
• Dr Tony Smith, CSIRO
• Associate Professor Tim Ward, SARDI
• Mr Mike Gerner, AFMA
• Mr Jon Bryan, Tasmanian Conservation Trust
These presentations can be found at
http://www.afma.gov.au/second-small-pelagic-fishery-stakeholderforum/
Efficient & sustainable management of Commonwealth fish resources
afma.gov.au
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