EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1985 No. 286
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industry
FISHERIES LEVY (SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA FISHERY) REGULATIONS
The Fisheries Levy Act 1984 provides for the Governor-General to make regulations for the purposes of sections 5 and 6 of that Act.
Paragraph 5(a) of the Act imposes levy on the grant of licences in a prescribed class. Paragraphs 5(bc) and 5(bd) of the Act impose levy on the allocation, or the renewal of the allocation, of prescribed units of fishing capacity.
Sub-section 6(1) of the Fisheries Levy Act 1984 provides that the amount of levy imposed by paragraph 5(a) of that Act on the grant of a licence under the Fisheries Act 1952 or on the allocation or on the renewal of the allocation of prescribed units of fishing capacity (by paragraphs 5(bc) and 5(bd) of the Fisheries Levy Act 1984) is the amount specified in or calculated in accordance with the regulations.
“Plan of Management No. 1 - Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery” under sub-section 7B(1) of the Fisheries Act 1952 provides for the allocation to persons, and the assignment to boats, of units of fishing capacity in that fishery.
Regulation 4 of the Fisheries Levy (Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery) Regulations prescribes licences under sub-section 9(2) of the Fisheries Act 1952 in respect of boats to which units of fishing capacity have been assigned in accordance with the plan of management, for purposes of paragraph 5(a) of the Fisheries Levy Act 1984.
Regulation 5 of those regulations prescribes units allocated in accordance with the plan of management for purposes of paragraphs 5(bc) and 5(bd) of the Fisheries Levy Act 1984.
Regulation 6 imposes levy at the rate of $41.15 for each unit of fishing capacity assigned to a boat for which a prescribed licence is in force or for each prescribed unit of fishing capacity allocated to a person.
The amount of levy has been calculated to recover 38% of the estimated cost of management of the southern bluefin tuna fishery in 1985/86.