Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION – WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WEST COAST DEMERSAL GILLNET AND DEMERSAL LONGLINE INTERIM MANAGED FISHERY AND THE SOUTHERN DEMERSAL GILLNET AND DEMERSAL LONGLINE MANAGED FISHERY, MAY 2026
I, Belinda Jago, Branch Head, Ocean and Wildlife, 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 16 August 2024 for the Western Australian West Coast Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Interim Managed Fishery and the Southern Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Fishery as defined in the management regime in force under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (WA) and the Fish Resources Management Regulations 1995 (WA), such that conditions specified in Schedule 1 to that declaration are varied as follows:
In Condition 5, delete the words
“The Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development must:
a) by 1 June 2026, develop and implement independent monitoring and data validation that is representative of the Western Australian West Coast Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Interim Managed Fishery and the Southern Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Managed Fishery. The information collected must be sufficient to reliably demonstrate the accuracy of endangered, threatened and protected species interaction data collected via logbooks.
b) by 1 February 2027, report outcomes of Condition 5a to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, which includes a summary of the level of coverage across the fishery, protected species interactions and validation of logbooks with independent data.
c) by 1 February 2027, develop and implement an expanded independent monitoring program framework that is representative of the Western Australian West Coast Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Interim Managed Fishery and the Southern Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Managed Fishery and will capture information on catch composition (including bycatch) and validate the accuracy of reported catch.”
and replace with the words
“The Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development must, by 1 June 2027, develop and implement independent monitoring and data validation that is representative of the Western Australian West Coast Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Interim Managed Fishery and the Southern Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Managed Fishery. The information collected must be sufficient to reliably demonstrate the accuracy of endangered, threatened and protected species interaction data collected via logbooks.”
In Condition 7, delete the words
“a) 1 December 2026, the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development must review current spatial controls (including Sea Lion Exclusion Zones) designed to minimise interactions and mortalities of Australian sea lion using all available data (this may include, but not be limited to, the data collected from the most recent independent monitoring programs).
b) By 1 February 2027, the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development must report to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on the findings of the study outlined in Condition 7a, including on any proposed modifications made to the management regime designed to protect Australian sea lion colonies or populations.”
and replace with the words
“Condition revoked.”
Dated this 11th day of May 2026
BELINDA JAGO
………….…….……………………….........
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 https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/cites.