Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015

Administered by Department of Agriculture

Legislation au F2015L00576 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

SELECT LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT 2015 No. 42

 

Issued by Authority of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture

 

Fisheries Management Act 1991

 

Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015

 

Section 168(1) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (the Act) provides that the Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by the Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed, in carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

The Act gives effect to the Government’s policies with respect to Commonwealth fisheries management. Section 14 of the Act provides that for the purpose of conserving the marine environment, regulations made under the Act may prohibit, or make provision for the regulation of, the engaging in specified activities, or the use of specified practices by persons engaged in fishing in the Australian fishing zone (AFZ) and Australian boats, and persons on Australian boats, engaged in fishing outside the AFZ. This section describes that regulations may be made in relation to the employment of specified fishing practices or methods, the use of specified fishing equipment, the taking, and treatment of, by-catches, and the making of returns in relation to by-catches taken and littering at sea.

 

The Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015 (the Amendment Regulation) provides an explicit legal ban on all boats over 130 metres in length from undertaking fishing related activities within the AFZ.

 

The Amendment Regulation gives effect to Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck’s statement on
24 December 2014 that the Australian Government would move to ban super trawlers from Australian waters by introducing regulations under the Act to prohibit fishing vessels over 130 metres in length. This supports the statement made by the Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP, in Parliament in March 2014 that the super trawler will stay banned.

 

Extensive consultation with industry and the community has been undertaken since 2012 on whether vessels of this size should be allowed to fish in the AFZ. This included formal public consultation undertaken by a scientific expert panel convened to investigate the risks associated with using similarly large vessels to fish in the small pelagic fishery. Many of the submissions received were general in nature, however they have provided a wide range of views on the use of super trawlers in Australian waters.

 

The Amendment Regulation inserts section 4D in the Fisheries Management Regulations 1992 (the Regulations) to set out requirements relating to boats used by persons engaged in fishing in the AFZ. Under the Amendment Regulation a person commits an offence of strict liability if the person uses a boat to engage in a fishing related activity in the AFZ and the boat is more than 130 metres in length. The offence is of strict liability because there is a strong element of specific and general deterrence to the offence and to require proof of intention would undermine the regulatory effectiveness of the provision and its objective to conserve the environment (the legislative objective of section 14 of the Act). It is also consistent with other offences in the Regulations, all of which are strict liability offences. In accordance with the Commonwealth Guide to Framing Offences, the penalty attached to the offence is well below the 60-penalty unit maximum threshold for strict liability offences. The offence is not punishable by imprisonment but fine only and no element of the offence is dependent on a subjective or community standard.

 

The department consulted with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in the preparation of the Amendment Regulation and consulted with the Office of Best Practice in the preparation of its Regulation Impact Statement (ID 17021). The Regulation Impact Statement is required to be published at the time of the implementation of the Amendment Regulation.

 

The Amendment Regulation is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

 

The Amendment Regulation is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared under section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011. A full statement of compatibility is set out in the Attachment.

 

Details of the Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015

 

Section 1 – Name of Regulation

 

Provides that the Amendment Regulation is to be cited as the Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015.

 

Section 2 – Commencement

 

Provides that the Amendment Regulation commences on the day after registration.

 

Section 3 – Authority

 

Provides that the Amendment Regulation is made under the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

 

Section 4 – Schedules

 

Provides that the Amendment Regulation is amended as set out in Schedule 1.

 

Schedule 1 – Amendments

Item 1 – After Part 2B

Insert:

Part 2C—Regulation etc. of certain practices

4D  Requirements relating to boats used by persons engaged in fishing in the AFZ

 (1) For section 14 of the Act, this regulation sets out requirements relating to boats used by persons engaged in fishing in the AFZ.

 (2) A person commits an offence if:

 (a) the person uses a boat to engage in a fishing-related activity in the AFZ; and

 (b) the boat is more than 130 metres in length.

Penalty: 25 penalty units.

 (3) An offence against subregulation (2) is an offence of strict liability.

Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.

 

 


ATTACHMENT

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015

 

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

This Legislative Instrument provides an explicit legal ban on all boats over 130 metres in length from undertaking fishing related activities within the Australian fishing zone, under the Fisheries Management Regulations 1992.

 

Human rights implications

This Legislative Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

 

Conclusion

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

 

Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck MP

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

The Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015 was enacted to provide an explicit legal ban on all boats over 130 metres in length from undertaking fishing-related activities within the Australian fishing zone. This regulation was made under the authority of Section 168(1) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991, which allows the Governor-General to make regulations necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving effect to the Act. The primary objective of this regulation is to conserve the marine environment by prohibiting certain practices and activities that could potentially harm marine ecosystems. The Australian Government introduced this amendment following extensive consultation with industry and the community, addressing concerns about the environmental impact of super trawlers on Australian waters. The regulation is designed as a strict liability offence, meaning that intent does not need to be proven, aligning with the Act’s objective to effectively conserve the environment and deter harmful activities. The penalty for contravening this regulation is set at 25 penalty units, ensuring compliance and enforcement without the need for imprisonment.

Scope and Application

The Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015 applies to all persons, entities, and vessels involved in fishing activities within the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ). Specifically, it targets boats exceeding 130 metres in length that engage in fishing-related activities within this zone, establishing strict liability for any contraventions. This means that any person using a boat longer than 130 metres for fishing in the AFZ commits an offence, regardless of intent, reinforcing the regulatory aim to conserve the marine environment. The regulation's jurisdictional reach is confined to the Commonwealth, impacting federal waters and activities therein. However, it does not extend to state waters or other national jurisdictions. While the primary focus is on prohibiting super trawlers from fishing in the AFZ, the regulation does not explicitly exclude other specific types of vessels or activities, but rather applies broadly to any boat over the specified length engaged in fishing within the AFZ. The enforcement and compliance are overseen by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, and any further specifics or exceptions may be detailed in subordinate instruments or guidelines issued under the authority of the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

Key Provisions

The Fisheries Management Amendment (Super Trawlers) Regulation 2015 introduces significant changes under the Fisheries Management Act 1991, primarily through the insertion of a new section 4D in the Fisheries Management Regulations 1992. This new section explicitly bans all boats over 130 metres in length from undertaking fishing-related activities within the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ). The Amendment Regulation thus imposes a strict prohibition on the use of such large vessels for fishing activities in Australian waters. Specifically, Section 4D(2) states that a person commits an offence if they use a boat exceeding 130 metres in length to engage in any fishing-related activity in the AFZ. The obligations imposed by this Regulation are clear and stringent. Any person found using a boat longer than 130 metres for fishing within the AFZ commits an offence under the Act. This prohibition is absolute and does not require proof of intent, reflecting the strict liability nature of the offence. This design ensures a high level of deterrence and compliance by holding individuals accountable regardless of their knowledge or intent. The regulation also aligns with the legislative objective of conserving the marine environment by preventing the potential negative impacts of large fishing vessels on marine ecosystems and fisheries sustainability. In terms of consequences for breach, the Amendment Regulation stipulates a penalty of 25 penalty units for the offence under Section 4D(2). Notably, this penalty does not include imprisonment, aligning with the approach of other offences under the Fisheries Management Regulations 1992. The fine-only penalty is intended to provide a strong deterrent while maintaining a balance between regulatory enforcement and the proportionality of the punishment. The choice of a fine-only penalty also reflects the strict liability nature of the offence, ensuring that the primary objective of protecting the marine environment is achieved without unduly penalising individuals.

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Area of Law
Environmental Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Offence Provisions
Compliance Obligations
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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.