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Declaration of an Approved Wildlife Trade Operation - Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery

Declaration of an Approved Wildlife Trade Operation - Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery

Administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Legislation au C2014G00868 In force Gazette

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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION

I, PAUL MURPHY, Assistant Secretary, Wildlife Trade and Biosecurity Branch, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment, having satisfied myself on the matters set out in section 303FN of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), declare the operation that is specified in column 1 of Table 1, to be an approved wildlife trade operation under subsection 303FN (2) of the EPBC Act, but only to the extent the operation relates to the class of specimens specified in column 2 of Table 1.

Table 1

Operation

Class of Specimens

Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery (being the Aquarium Fishing/Display Fishery as defined in the Northern Territory Fisheries Regulations in force under the Northern Territory Fisheries Act 1988).

Specimens that are, or are derived from, fish or invertebrates, other than:

a) specimens that belong to species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act, and

b) specimens that belong to taxa listed under section 303CA of the EPBC Act (Part 13A), except for specimens that belong to taxa listed in Schedule 2.

This declaration:

a) is valid until 9 December 2016; and

b) is subject to the conditions under section 303FT of the EPBC Act specified in the Schedule 1.

Dated this 29th day of May 2014

………….…….………Paul Murphy………………………

Delegate of the Minister for the Environment

Under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, a person whose interests are affected by this decision may apply for a statement of reasons and for independent review of the decision. An application for a statement of reason may be made in writing to Department of the Environment within 28 days of the date of the declaration. An application for independent review may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on payment of the relevant fee within 28 days of the date of the declaration, or if reasons are sought, within 28 days of receipt of reasons. Further information may be obtained from the Director, Sustainable Fisheries Section.

SCHEDULE 1

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS (section 303FT)

Relating to the harvesting of fish specimens that are, or are derived from, fish or invertebrates, other than specimens of species listed under Part 13 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), taken in the Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery subject to the following conditions:

Operation of the fishery will be carried out in accordance with the management regime under the Northern Territory Fisheries Act 1988 and the Northern Territory Fisheries Regulations 1993.

2. The Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (DPIF) to inform the Department of the Environment of any intended material changes to the Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery management arrangements that may affect the assessment against which Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 decisions are made.

3. The Northern Territory DPIF to produce and present reports to the Department of the Environment annually as per Appendix B of the ‘Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries - 2nd Edition’.

4. The Northern Territory DPIF to:

a) work to ensure that the harvest of CITES listed species is limited according to current non-detriment findings for each species or species group,

b) immediately inform the Department of any breaches in harvest limits and prohibit further harvest of affected species if required, and

c) consult with the Department prior to a change to the management arrangements for a CITES or EPBC Act listed species being implemented.

5. The Northern Territory DPIF to:

a) commence an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) process in 2014/15. Any recommendations resulting from the ERA to be addressed in the subsequent fishing season, and

b) consider further research on CITES species in the context of the outcomes of the ERA, including on species' distribution and abundance in areas of high fishing effort.

6. The Northern Territory DPIF to:

a) review current data collection methods and implement measures to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of data collection and validation, and

b) investigate and implement appropriate compliance measures to ensure the accuracy of logbook data.

SCHEDULE 2

Scleractinian coral	Acropora monticulosa	Echinophyllia aspera	Goniastrea favulus
Acanthastrea bowerbanki	Acropora nana	Echinophyllia orpheensis	Goniastrea palauensis
Acanthastrea echinata	Acropora nasuta	Euphyllia ancora	Goniastrea pectinata
Acanthastrea hemprichii	Acropora nobilis	Euphyllia cristata	Goniastrea retiformis
Acanthastrea hillae	Acropora palifera	Euphyllia divisa	Goniopora columna
Acanthastrea lordhowensis	Acropora palmerae	Euphyllia glabrescens	Goniopora djiboutiensis
Acanthastrea maxima	Acropora papillare	Euphyllia paraancora	Goniopora eclipsensis
Acanthastrea maxima	Acropora polystoma	Favia favus	Goniopora lobata
Acanthastrea micromussa	Acropora pulchra	Favia helianthoides	Goniopora minor
Acropora abrotanoides	Acropora robusta	Favia laxa	Goniopora norfolkensis
Acropora aculeus	Acropora russelli	Favia lizardensis	Goniopora pandoraensis
Acropora acuminata	Acropora samoensis	Favia maritima	Goniopora pendulus
Acropora anthocercis	Acropora sarmentosa	Favia matthaii	Goniopora somaliensis
Acropora aspera	Acropora selago	Favia maxima	Goniopora stokesi
Acropora austera	Acropora solitaryensis	Favia pallida	Goniopora stutchburyi
Acropora brueggemanni	Acropora spicifera	Favia rotumana	Goniopora tenuidens
Acropora bushyensis	Acropora stoddarti	Favia rotundata	Heliofungia actiniformis
Acropora cardenae	Acropora subglabra	Favia speciosa	Herpolitha limax
Acropora cerealis	Acropora subulata	Favia stelligera	Heteractis crispa
Acropora clathrata	Acropora tenuis	Favia truncatus	Heteractis magnifica
Acropora cytherea	Acropora tortuosa	Favia veroni	Heteractis malu
Acropora danai	Acropora turaki	Favites abdita	Hydnophora exesa
Acropora dendrum	Acropora valenciennesi	Favites chinensis	Hydnophora microconos
Acropora digitifera	Acropora valida	Favites complanata	Hydnophora pilosa
Acropora divaricata	Acropora vaughani	Favites flexuosa	Hydnophora rigida
Acropora donei	Acropora verweyi	Favites halicora	Leptastrea purpurea
Acropora echinata	Acropora willisae	Favites paraflexuosa	Leptastrea transversa
Acropora efflorescence	Acropora yongei	Favites pentagona	Leptogorgia virgulata
Acropora elseyi	Alveopora allingi	Favites russelli	Leptoria phrygia
Acropora exquisita	Alveopora spongiosa	Fungia concinna	Lithophyllon edwardsi
Acropora florida	Alveopora tizardi	Fungia costulata	Lithophyllon undulatum
Acropora formosa	Alveopora verrilliana	Fungia cyclolites	Lobophyllia corymbosa
Acropora gemmifera	Astreopora expansa	Fungia distorta	Lobophyllia diminuta
Acropora glauca	Astreopora gracilis	Fungia fragilis	Lobophyllia hataii
Acropora grandis	Astreopora myriophthalma	Fungia fungites	Lobophyllia hemprichii
Acropora granulosa	Astreopora ocellata	Fungia granulosa	Lobophyllia pachysepta
Acropora horrida	Astreopora randalli	Fungia horrida	Lobophyllia robusta
Acropora humilis	Australogyra zelli	Fungia klunzingeri	Merulina ampliata
Acropora hyacinthus	Australomussa rowleyensis	Fungia patelliformis	Micromussa amakusensis
Acropora Indiana	Balanophyllia cornu	Fungia paumotensis	Micromussa diminuta
Acropora intermedia	Balanophyllia generatrix	Fungia repanda	Montastrea curta
Acropora latistella	Blastomussa wellsi	Fungia scruposa	Montastrea magnistellata
Acropora listeri	Ctenactis albitentaculata	Fungia scutaria	Montastrea valenciennesi
Acropora loisetteae	Ctenactis echinata	Fungia sinensis	Montipora aequituberculata
Acropora longicyathus	Cynarina lacrymalis	Fungia tenuis	Montipora angulata
Acropora lovelli	Cyphastrea chalcidicum	Galaxea astreata	Montipora australiensis
Acropora lutkeni	Cyphastrea microphthalma	Galaxea fascicularis	Montipora calcarea
Acropora microclados	Cyphastrea seralia	Goniastrea aspera	Montipora caliculata
Acropora microphthalma	Dendrophyllia arbuscula	Goniastrea australensis	Montipora capricornis
Acropora millepora	Duncanopsammia axifuga	Goniastrea edwardsi	Montipora crassituberculata
Montipora danae	Moseleya latistellata	Pocillopora woodjonesi	Scolymia vitiensis
Montipora digitata	Mycedium elephantotus	Podabacia crustacea	Seriatopora hystrix
Montipora efflorescens	Oxypora lacera	Polyphyllia talpina	Stylophora pistillata
Montipora floweri	Pavona cactus	Porites annae	Stylophora subseriata
Montipora foliosa	Pavona decussata	Porites aranetai	Symphyllia agaricia
Montipora foveolata	Pavona explanata	Porites australiensis	Symphyllia radians
Montipora grisea	Pavona maldivensis	Porites cylindrica	Symphyllia recta
Montipora hispida	Pavona varians	Porites evermanni	Symphyllia valenciennesii
Montipora hoffmeisteri	Pavona venosa	Porites heronensis	Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
Montipora incrassata	Pectinia lactuca	Porites lichen	Tubastraea micranthus
Montipora informis	Pectinia paeonia	Porites lobata	Tubipora musica
Montipora millepora	Pectinia teres	Porites lutea	Tubipora musica
Montipora mollis	Physogyra lichtensteini	Porites murrayensis	Turbinaria bifrons
Montipora monasteriata	Platygyra daedalea	Porites nigrescens	Turbinaria conspicua
Montipora nodosa	Platygyra lamellina	Porites rus	Turbinaria frondens
Montipora peltiformis	Platygyra pini	Porites solida	Turbinaria mesenterina
Montipora spongodes	Platygyra ryukyuensis	Porites stephensoni	Turbinaria patula
Montipora spumosa	Platygyra sinensis	Porites vaughani	Turbinaria peltata
Montipora stellata	Platygyra verweyi	Psammocora contigua	Turbinaria radicalis
Montipora tuberculosa	Plerogyra sinuosa	Psammocora digitata	Turbinaria reniformis
Montipora turgescens	Plesiastrea versipora	Psammocora explanulata	Turbinaria stellulata
Montipora turtlensis	Pocillopora damicornis	Psammocora haimeana	Giant clams
Montipora undata	Pocillopora eydouxi	Psammocora nierstraszi	Tridacna maxima
Montipora venosa	Pocillopora meandrina	Psammocora profundacella	Tridacna squamosa
Montipora verrucosa	Pocillopora verrucosa	Psammocora superficialis	Live rock

Overview

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) was enacted to provide for the protection of the environment, particularly in relation to matters of national environmental significance. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive framework to manage and protect Australia's biodiversity and ecosystems. The EPBC Act is administered by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of the Environment and Energy. The primary policy objective of the Act is to ensure the protection and conservation of Australia's unique biodiversity and ecosystems by regulating activities that may have a significant impact on them. In this context, the EPBC Act provides a mechanism for the declaration of approved wildlife trade operations, ensuring that these operations comply with specific conditions to protect endangered species and maintain ecological sustainability. This declaration by the Delegate of the Minister for the Environment specifies an approved wildlife trade operation concerning the Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery, which involves the trade of fish and invertebrate specimens, excluding those that are listed under the EPBC Act. The operation is subject to conditions aimed at maintaining ecological sustainability and ensuring compliance with relevant management regimes.

Scope and Application

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) pertains to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, and its application is broad, impacting various entities and industries. This Act applies to operations that involve wildlife trade, particularly those that involve the collection, possession, trade, transport, and use of wildlife, including fish and invertebrates. The declaration under this Act, made by the Assistant Secretary of the Wildlife Trade and Biosecurity Branch, specifies that the Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery is recognised as an approved wildlife trade operation, provided that the operation relates to specimens that are, or are derived from, fish or invertebrates, excluding those belonging to species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act and taxa listed under section 303CA, except for those listed in Schedule 2. The geographic reach of this declaration is within the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically in relation to the Northern Territory. The declaration is subject to certain conditions outlined in Schedule 1, which mandate adherence to the management regime under the Northern Territory Fisheries Act 1988 and other specified reporting and compliance measures. The declaration is valid until 9 December 2016, and provisions for review and appeal are available under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the declaration under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) establish the Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery as an approved wildlife trade operation (section 303FN). This approval is conditional upon the fishery adhering to specific guidelines concerning the harvesting of fish specimens that are, or are derived from, fish or invertebrates, excluding specimens belonging to species listed under Part 13 of the EPBC Act and taxa listed under section 303CA of the EPBC Act, except for those listed in Schedule 2. The declaration outlines that this approval is effective until 9 December 2016 and is subject to the conditions specified in Schedule 1 of the document. The obligations imposed by the Act on the parties involved, primarily the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (DPIF), include ensuring that the fishery operates in accordance with the management regime under the Northern Territory Fisheries Act 1988 and the Northern Territory Fisheries Regulations 1993. The DPIF must also inform the Department of the Environment of any material changes to the management arrangements of the Northern Territory Aquarium Fishery that may impact the assessment against which EPBC Act decisions are made. Furthermore, the DPIF is required to produce and submit annual reports to the Department of the Environment as per the 'Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries - 2nd Edition'. Additionally, the DPIF is tasked with limiting the harvest of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listed species in line with current non-detriment findings, reporting any breaches in harvest limits, and consulting with the Department before implementing changes to the management arrangements for listed species. The DPIF must also initiate an Environmental Risk Assessment process and consider further research on CITES species based on the assessment outcomes. Failure to comply with the provisions and conditions outlined in the declaration may result in various consequences. While the specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the declaration itself, breaches of the EPBC Act can typically lead to civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines up to $66,600 for individuals and significantly higher amounts for corporations, depending on the severity and nature of the offence. Criminal penalties can include imprisonment, with the maximum penalties varying according to the specific provisions of the Act that are breached. It is important to note that the exact penalties would be determined in the context of the specific breach and the relevant sections of the EPBC Act.

Area of Law: Environmental Law
Instrument: Gazette Notice
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations; Compliance Obligations; Enforcement Powers

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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