Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION – QUEENSLAND AQUARIUM FISH FisherY, MARCH 2026
I, JESSICA HOEY, Director Sustainable Fisheries & CITES Policy, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water, hereby vary under paragraph 303FT(7)(b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the declaration of an approved wildlife trade operation dated 18 April 2024 for the Queensland Aquarium Fish Fishery as defined in the management regime in force under the:
- Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld)
- Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 (Qld)
- Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019 (Qld)
- Fisheries Declaration 2019 (Qld),
such that the condition specified in Schedule 1 to that declaration is varied as follows:
In Condition 5 b), delete the words
“By 30 May 2026, implement all risk mitigation recommendations identified in the level 2 assessment.”
and replace with the words
“By 30 November 2026, implement all risk mitigation recommendations identified in the level 2 assessment.”
In Condition 6, delete the words
“By 30 May 2026, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must review and if necessary, update the Queensland Aquarium Fish Fishery harvest strategy to ensure it:
a) considers the outcomes from the Level 2 Environmental Risk Assessment
b) manages risks to individual species and ecosystem functions, including risks associated with environmental disturbance and localised depletion.
A copy of the revised harvest strategy must be published and sent to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by 30 May 2026.”
and replace with the words
“By 30 November 2026, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must review and if necessary, update the Queensland Aquarium Fish Fishery harvest strategy to ensure it:
a) considers the outcomes from the Level 2 Environmental Risk Assessment
b) manages risks to individual species and ecosystem functions, including risks associated with environmental disturbance and localised depletion.
A copy of the revised harvest strategy must be published and sent to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by 30 November 2026.”
Dated this 3 day of March 2026
………………………...JESSICA HOEY……………………….........
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water
Notes:
- Under the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024, 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 Review 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.
- Australia’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are met through Part 13A of the EPBC Act. Specimens of species listed in Appendix II of Taxa listed in the CITES Appendices under section 303CA of the EPBC Act may only be exported, under a CITES export permit issued under the EPBC Act, if Australia’s CITES Scientific Authority has issued a non-detriment finding for that species. Further information is available from hhttps://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/cites.