EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the authority of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Fisheries Management Act 1991
Southern Squid Jig Fishery Management Plan 2005
Southern Squid Jig Fishery Total Allowable Effort Determination 2007.
The Southern Squid Jig Fishery Total Allowable Effort Determination 2007 (the Determination) is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Subsection 17(6)(aa) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (the FM Act) provides that a plan of management determined for a fishery under the FM Act may determine or provide for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) to determine the fishing capacity permitted for the fishery or a part of the fishery in respect of a particular period or periods.
In performing its functions under Part 3 of the FM Act, subsection 16(1) of the FM Act requires that AFMA must pursue its objectives and, in addition, act in accordance with its corporate plan and current annual operational plan.
Subsection 11(1) of the Southern Squid Jig Fishery Management Plan 2005 (the Plan) provides that, prior to the start of the fishing year, AFMA must determine the total allowable effort (TAE) for the fishing year.
The Southern Squid Jig Fishery
The Southern Squid Jig Fishery (the SSJF) targets squid species by the squid jigging method. Jigging is a particularly successful method for targeting squid and has a high level of specificity for the target species.
The majority of squid taken from the fishery is sold on the domestic market, with some of the byproduct (mainly tentacles) being exported to Mediterranean countries.
Most squid caught by the jigging method are taken from fishing grounds off Portland, Queenscliff and Lakes Entrance in Victoria, with a small number of operators fishing in South Australian waters.
Regulation Impact Statement
The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) have advised that a Regulation Impact Statement is not required for the Determination (OBPR ID 9342).
Consultation
AFMA’s management philosophy (as foreshadowed in its governing legislation) involves a partnership approach to the management of marine resources under its jurisdiction. Cooperation with relevant stakeholders, such as the fishing industry, government agencies, the community and others with an interest in the sustainable management of the Commonwealth’s fisheries resources, is a vital part of this approach. This approach provides opportunities for stakeholders to have input into the management process through, in the case of the SSJF, the Southern Squid Jig Fishery Management Advisory Committee (SquidMAC) and the Southern Squid Jig Fishery Resource Assessment Group (SquidRAG), formerly known as the Southern Squid Jig Fishery Assessment Group (SquidFAG).
Subsections 11(2) of the Plan provides that before determining the TAE for a fishing year, AFMA must consult, and consider the views of SquidMAC and SquidFAG (now SquidRAG) and may consult, and consider the views of, any other interested person. SquidMAC and SquidRAG met on 11 October 2007 to consider the TAE for the fishery and are in agreement with AFMA that a TAE of 640 standard squid jigging machines for the 2008 fishing year is appropriate.
AFMA has determined the TAE for the fishery of 640 standard squid jigging machines for the 2008 fishing year following due consideration of the SquidMAC and SquidRAG representations. AFMA is satisfied that the Determination pursues its objectives and is consistent with its corporate plan and current annual operational plan.
Details of the Determination are set out below:
Clause 1 | Provides for the Determination to be cited as the Southern Squid Jig Fishery Total Allowable Effort Determination 2007. |
Clause 2 | Provides that the Determination commences the day after registration. |
Clause 3 | Provides that a term used in the Determination and in the Plan has the same meaning in the Determination as in the Plan. |
Clause 4 | Determines the total allowable effort for the fishery for the 2008 fishing year is 640 standard squid jigging machines. |