Northern Prawn Fishery (Gear Requirements Variation) Direction No. 175 (Cth)

DIRECTION NOT TO ENGAGE IN FISHING

Fisheries Management Act 1991

Subsection 41A(3)

NORTHERN PRAWN FISHERY (GEAR REQUIREMENTS VARIATION) DIRECTION No. 175

I, JAMES FINDLAY, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, as delegate, under Delegation from the Commission No. 2 of 2016 dated 14^th November 2016, make the following Direction under subsection 41A(3) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

Dated:             26 July 2017

James Findlay

Chief Executive Officer,

Australian Fisheries Management Authority

Contents

1.Citation

2.Commencement

3.Variation of the Northern Prawn Fishery (Gear Requirements) Direction No. 174

Schedule 1      Variations of the Northern Prawn Fishery (Gear Requirements) Direction No. 174

1. Citation

This Direction is the Northern Prawn Fishery (Gear Requirements Variation) Direction No. 175. 

1. Commencement

This Direction commences of the day after it is registered.

1. Variation of the Northern Prawn Fishery (Gear Requirements) Direction No. 174

This Direction varies the Northern Prawn Fishery (Gear Requirements) Direction No. 174 as outlined in Schedule 1. 

Schedule 1      Variations of the Northern Prawn Fishery (Gear Requirements) Direction No. 174

[1]        Heading to section 6

omit

unless devices fitted

[2]        Subsection 6(1)

substitute

6.1       Fishing is not to be engaged in in the Northern Prawn Fishery area until this Direction ceases unless earlier revoked.

6.1A    Holders of fishing concessions in respect of the Northern Prawn Fishery are exempt from the prohibition in subclause 6.1 where:

i) a By-catch Reduction Device (as described in Schedule 1) installed in each net that is rigged for fishing, and;

ii) if fishing where the depth of water is less than 200 metres, either a TED or a Modified Turtle Excluder Device (as described in Schedule 2) installed in each net that is rigged for fishing: and

iii) if a codend cover (skirt) is used; the codend cover (skirt) is attached no further than 60 meshes from the codend drawstrings.

6.1B    A net is rigged for fishing for the purpose of paragraph 6.1A(i) if part or all of the net is in the water, or if it is shackled, tied or otherwise connected to any trawl door or trawl board, or to any tow rope or cable, either on board the boat or attached in any manner to the boat.

[3]        Item 7 of Schedule 1

substitute

7.         “Kon’s Covered Fisheye” means two escape opening devices installed in a net rigged for fishing to the following specification:

a)one escape opening device located at 78 meshes from the codend drawstring; and

b)one escape opening device located at 55 meshes from the codend drawstring; and

for which each escape opening device has the following characteristics prior to being installed in a net rigged for fishing:

c)a vertical escape opening held open by a rigid frame that encloses a rigid cone; and

d)an escape opening measuring no less than 430 mm wide by 205 mm high and must face the codend; and

e)a rigid cone measuring no less than 295 mm wide by 145 mm high by 275 mm in length fixed to the rigid frame; and

f)with an escape gap between the rigid frame and the rigid cone of 55 mm.