Explanatory Statement
Prepared by the authority of the Managing Director of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Fisheries Management Act 1991
Revocation of the Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery Management Plan
Subsection 20 (3) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (FMA) provides that the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) may revoke a plan of management by following the procedures that apply to determining a plan of management under section 17. AFMA may in writing, after consultation with those engaged in fishing and after giving due consideration to representations, revoke a plan of management.
The persons with whom AFMA must consult are specified in subsection 17(1) to be such persons engaged in fishing as appear to AFMA to be appropriate. AFMA has consulted with these persons in relation to the revocation of the Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery Management Plan (the GABTF Plan). The representations mentioned above are referred to in subsections 17(1) and 17(3) to be representations received by AFMA, by a date specified in a public notice complying with subsection 17(2), in response to that notice. AFMA has undertaken its obligations regarding consultation of this revocation. AFMA did not receive any written comments against the revocation of the GABTF Plan.
AFMA has determined a new management plan (the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Management Plan 2003 (SESSF Plan) which encompasses the Great Australian Bight Trawl (including the East Coast Deepwater Zone and the Commonwealth Victorian Inshore Trawl), the Gillnet, Hook and Trap and the South East Trawl Sectors.
The Office of Regulation and Review has given AFMA an exemption for the preparation of a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for the revocation of the GABTF Plan. The RIS identification number for compliance reporting purposes is 3808.