Fisheries on Great Barrier Reef are managed by Fisheries Queensland in accordance with the Fisheries Act 1994 and the Fisheries Regulation 2008. The Coral Sea Fishery is managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in accordance with the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and the Fisheries Management Regulation 1992.
Management aims to provide for the use, conservation and enhancement of the community’s fisheries resources and fish habitats in a way that seeks to apply and balance the principles of ecologically sustainable development. Guided by comprehensive Species Vulnerability Assessment and Ecological Risk Assessment, management seeks to protect and conserve fisheries resources whilst enabling fishing industry sectors to prosper.
Fishery management arrangements are subject to Strategic Assessment by the Australian government Environment Department for compliance with the Wildlife Trade and Threatened Species sections of the Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Compliance is a prerequisite for the export of product from each fishery. Many Australian fisheries are reliant on export earnings so their existence is dependant upon robust management and continually improving environmental performance.
Fishery management performance is measured against the ‘Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries’, which were originally based on the principles that guide the Marine Stewardship Council. The Guidelines outline specific principles and objectives designed to ensure a strategic and transparent way of evaluating the ecological sustainability of fishery management arrangements.
Since 2000, this extensive assessment process has assisted in the implementation of ecosystem based fisheries management and in driving continuous improvement in fishery management performance. A series of recommendations accompany assessment. These recommendations require fishery management agencies to demonstrate improved environmental performance, and actively enhance the ecologically sustainable management of fisheries.
Learn more about fisheries and their management at: www.dpi.qld.gov.au, www.afma.gov.au/ and www.environment.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/index.html
Download:
Fisheries Act 1994 QLD
Fisheries Regulations 2008 QLD
Queensland Fisheries Strategy 2009-2014
Fisheries Management Act 1991 Commonwealth
Fisheries Management Regulations 1992 Commonwealth
Guidelines or the Sustainable Management of Fisheries
EPBC Act 1999 Volume 1 Sections 1-266a
EPBC Act 1999 Volume 2 Sections 267-528
EPBC Regulations 2000