COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION – NORTHERN TERRITORY COASTAL LINE FISHERY, JULY 2023
I, BELINDA JAGO, Branch Head, Oceans and Wildlife Branch, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water, have considered in accordance with section 303FN of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the application from the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade and advice on the ecological sustainability of the operation. I am satisfied on those matters specified in section 303FN of the EPBC Act. I hereby declare the operations for the harvesting of specimens that are or are derived from fish or invertebrates, taken in the Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery as defined in the management regime in force under the:
- Northern Territory of Australia Fisheries Act 1988 (NT)
- Northern Territory of Australia Fisheries Regulations 1992 (NT),
but not including:
(a) specimens that belong to taxa listed under section 209 of the EPBC Act (Australia’s List of Migratory Species), or
(b) specimens that belong to taxa listed under section 248 of the EPBC Act (Australia’s List of Marine Species), or
(c) specimens that belong to eligible listed threatened species, as defined under section 303BC of the EPBC Act, or
(d) specimens that belong to taxa listed under section 303CA of the EPBC Act (Australia’s CITES List),
to be an approved wildlife trade operation, in accordance with subsection 303FN(2) and paragraph 303FN(10)(d), for the purposes of the EPBC Act.
Unless amended or revoked, this declaration:
a) is valid until 30 June 2026, and
b) is subject to the conditions applied under section 303FT specified in Schedule 1.
Dated this 5th day of July 2023
Belinda Jago
………….…….…………………………………
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water
Notes: 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 reasons may be made in writing to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water 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, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Email: sustainablefisheries@dcceew.gov.au.
Schedule 1
Declaration of the harvest operations of the Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery as an approved wildlife trade operation, July 2023
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS (section 303FT)
Relating to the harvesting of specimens that are, or are derived from, fish or invertebrates, other than specimens of species listed under Part 13 and Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), taken in the Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery:
Condition 1
Operation of the Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery must be carried out in accordance with management arrangements in force under the Northern Territory of Australia Fisheries Act 1988 (NT) and the Northern Territory of Australia Fisheries Regulations 1992 (NT).
Condition 2
The Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade must inform the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water of any intended material changes to the Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery management arrangements that may affect the assessment against which Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 decisions are made.
Condition 3
The Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade must inform the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water of any intended changes to fisheries legislation that may affect the legislative instruments relevant to this approval.
Condition 4
The Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade must produce and present reports on the Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by 30 June annually, as per Appendix B of the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries – 2nd Edition. The first report is due 30 June 2024.
Condition 5
By 1 March 2024, the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade must undertake a stock assessment for golden snapper, and if the relative biomass estimate is below a trigger or limit reference point, then implement a formal recovery plan in accordance with the harvest strategy by 31 July 2024.