EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the Authority of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Fisheries Management Act 1991
Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management Plan 2005
Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Total Allowable Commercial Catch Determination 2023
Paragraph 17(6)(aa) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (the Act) provides that a plan of management made under the Act may provide for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (the Authority) to determine the fishing capacity permitted for the fishery or a part of the fishery in respect of a particular period or periods.
Subsection 11(1) of the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management Plan 2005 (the Plan) provides that the Authority must determine a Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for each quota species for the fishing season before the fishing season commences. A determination of a TACC must specify the TACC expressed in whole weight or a specified other weight.
Subsection 11(2) of the Plan provides that, before the Authority determines a TACC for a quota species for a fishing season, it must consider information given by the advisory committee, other interested Australian and international bodies and other interested persons; the total estimated catch by the commercial, recreational, indigenous and any other users of the fishery; information about the sustainability of marine species in the area of the fishery; the reference points set for the stocks of quota species; the precautionary principle; any decision made by the Minister or an intergovernmental Ministerial Council about resource sharing in the fishery; any decision rule used for setting the TACC; and the likely effect, for the fishing season, of any overcatch permitted.
The instrument determines the total allowable commercial catch for quota species in the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (the Fishery) for the 2023/24, fishing season.
The Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Total Allowable Commercial Catch Determination 2023 (the Determination) is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.
The Fishery
The Fishery covers the area of waters in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) included on the west coast of Australia, westward from Cape York Peninsula (142°30’E) off Queensland to 34°S off the west coast of Western Australia. It also extends eastward from 34°S off the west coast of Western Australia, across the Great Australian Bight to 141°E at the South Australian/Victorian border. The Fishery also includes Australian waters outside of 12 nm off Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands. The Plan also applies to Australian boats fishing on the high seas within the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission’s (IOTC) Area of Competence. Management in the Fishery has been through output controls in the form of individually transferable quotas since the Plan was determined in 2005.
Consultation
The Tropical Tuna Resource Assessment Group (TTRAG) provides scientific advice on TACCs for the WTBF. TTRAG comprises scientific, industry, recreational fishing and management stakeholders who are appointed following a public application process through a defined AFMA Policy. Causal observers together with Invited Participants also attend TTRAG meetings. Tuna Australia, the Tropical Tuna Peak Industry body is an invited participant to TTRAG. Advice from TTRAG was considered by the Tropical Tuna Management Advisory Committee (also comprising the same range of stakeholder groups as for TTRAG), which provided advice on recommended TACCs for each quota species to the AFMA Commission.
TTMAC took into account broader considerations in order to recommend a TACC. These include the Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy, stock levels assessed by the IOTC, Conservation and Management Measures adopted by the IOTC, any relevant whole of government position on catch allocations, total catches from other commercial, recreational and Indigenous sectors and any decisions or considerations on resource sharing.
The AFMA Commission determined the TACCs for all quota species at its meeting on 9-10 November 2022 after considering advice from TTMAC and TTRAG.
Regulation Impact Statement
The Office of Best Practice Regulation has previously advised that a Regulation Impact Statement is not required for a Determination of this nature, consistent with the agreement in place to cover all regulatory changes deemed to be of a minor or machinery nature (OBPR reference 14421).
Statement of compatibility prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
The Authority assesses under section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 that this legislative instrument is compatible with human rights. The Authority’s Statement of Compatibility is attached as a supporting document.
The Authority assesses under section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 that this legislative instrument is compatible with human rights. The Authority’s Statement of Compatibility is attached as a supporting document.
Details of the Determination are set out below:
Clause 1 Provides for the Determination to be cited as the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Total Allowable Commercial Catch Determination 2023.
Clause 2 Provides for the commencement of the Determination.
Clause 3 Provides that the Instrument is made pursuant to paragraph 17(6)(aa) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 under subsection 11(1) of the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management Plan 2005.
Clause 4 Defines terms used in the Determination.
Clause 5 Provides that the instrument ceases on 1 February 2024.
Clause 6 Determines the total allowable commercial catch for quota species in the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery for the 2023/24 fishing season commencing on 1 February 2023 and ending on 31 January 2024.