Torres Strait Fisheries Tropical Rock Lobster (Total Allowable Catch) Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2022

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by authority of the Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries

Torres Strait Fisheries (Quotas for Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar)) Management Plan 2018

Torres Strait Fisheries Tropical Rock Lobster (Total Allowable Catch) Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2022

Legislative authority

Subsection 14(1) of the Torres Strait Fisheries (Quotas for Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar)) Management Plan 2018 (Management Plan) made under section 15A of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 provides that the Minister may increase the total allowable catch determined for a fishing season. Paragraph 35(1)(a) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 provides for the Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority (‘the PZJA’) to exercise the powers of the Minister under section 15A of that Act.

The Torres Strait Fisheries Tropical Rock Lobster (Total Allowable Catch) Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2022 (‘the Amendment Determination’) is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003 (Legislation Act). Due to the fact that the PZJA is an intergovernmental body involving the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland, the Amendment Determination is not subject to disallowance because of the application of subsection 44(1) of the Legislation Act. The enabling primary legislation for the Amendment Determination facilitates the operation of the PZJA and authorises the Minister to make such instruments for the purposes of fisheries managed under the PZJA. The Amendment Determination is developed through the framework of this intergovernmental body.

Purpose

The Amendment Determination amends the Torres Strait Fisheries Tropical Rock Lobster (Total Allowable Catch) Determination 2021 to increase the total allowable catch (TAC) of tropical rock lobster (TRL) determined in the TRL fishery for the 2021/22 fishing season, which commenced on 1 December 2021.  The TAC for the TRL Fishery is to be increased from 200,000 kilograms (unprocessed weight) to 415,125 kilograms (unprocessed weight).

Consultation

Subsection 14(2) of the Management Plan provides that the consultation processes set out in subsections 13(2) and 13(3) of the Management Plan apply to determining an increase in the TAC. Subsection 13(2) of the Management Plan stipulates that in making a TAC determination, the Minister must consult with any advisory committee that the PZJA has established under subsection 40(7) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 (Fisheries Act) to provide advice relating to the TRL fishery; and have regard to Australia’s obligations under the Torres Strait Treaty[1].  Further, subsection 13(3) of the Management Plan provides that in making the determination, the Minister may consider the views of any person with an interest in the TRL fishery or the ecological sustainable use of the TRL fishery; and take into account the amount of tropical rock lobster taken as a result of other fishing such as traditional or recreational fishing.   

The PZJA, on behalf of the Minister, consulted with the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Resource Assessment Group (TSTRLRAG) and Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Working Group (TSTRLWG) from 15-16 December 2021, concerning an increase of the TAC determined for the TRL Fishery.  The advice from these advisory committees takes into account relevant scientific information collected in November 2021. These advisory committees were established under subsection 40(7) of the Fisheries Act. Memberships of these advisory committees comprise of an independent Chair, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF), scientists, an economist, and representatives from the Torres Strait fishing industry (including from both the traditional inhabitant and non-traditional inhabitant Torres Strait fishing industry sectors). 

The increase of the TAC determined for the TRL Fishery is consistent with catch sharing arrangements between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) agreed under the Torres Strait Treaty.  Subject to PNG’s utilisation of its catch entitlements in Australian waters, the Minister may determine a further increase of the TAC determined for the TRL Fishery.

Native Title

The determination of the increase in the TAC by the Minister is a future act for the purposes of the Native Title Act 1993 (the Native Title Act). Section 24HA of the Native Title Act relevantly provides that the making of legislation in relation to the management or regulation of living aquatic resources is a valid future act, insofar as the Amendment Determination is validly made.

Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

As the Amendment Determination is exempt from disallowance through the process of parliamentary scrutiny, by application of subsection 44(1) of the Legislation Act, a statement of compatibility with human rights does not have to be prepared for the purpose of Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Regulation impact statement

Consistent with agreed carve out arrangements, the Office of Best Practice Regulation advised that a Regulation Impact Statement was not required for the Amendment Determination, (OBPR reference numbers 14421 & 25743).

Details of the Amendment Determination are set out in Attachment A.

ATTACHMENT A

Details on provisions

Torres Strait Fisheries Tropical Rock Lobster (Total Allowable Catch) Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2022

[1] Treaty between Australia and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea concerning Sovereignty and Maritime Boundaries in the area between the two Countries, including the area known as Torres Strait, and Related Matters