EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1988 NO. 63
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
FISHERIES ACT 1952
FISHERIES REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
Paragraph 17(1)(f) of the Fisheries Act 1952 empowers the Governor-General to make regulations providing for the furnishing of returns containing information in relation to the processing of fish in Australia.
The proposed regulations require a person who receives or transfers gemfish for processing to furnish, to the Commonwealth, a weekly return which includes certain prescribed categories of information.
The principal purpose of the regulation is to give effect to a resolution by the South East Trawl Management Advisory Committee (SETMAC) aimed at maintaining stocks of gemfish in the South Eastern Trawl Fishery. SETMAC comprises representatives from the fishing industry, the various State Government Departments with responsibility for fisheries matters and the Australian Fisheries Service in the Department of Primary Industries and Energy.
SETMAC resolved to limit the total allowable catch of gemfish during the winter spawning run to 3000 tonnes. The processors’ return will be used to monitor gemfish catches.
The regulations will take effect on 1 May 1988.