Document
Index
1999-2000 Ministerial Statements
Investing in our Natural and
Cultural Heritage
Chapter 9
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Document
Index |
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The Commonwealth Government provides leadership in ensuring that fisheries resources
are managed in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. The
Commonwealth's Fisheries and Aquaculture subprogramme develops policies and legislation
for the sustainable management of Australian fisheries and aquaculture. This includes
addressing the environmental impact of fishing.
The Commonwealth Government takes a leading role in managing Australia's participation in
fisheries working groups for regional agreements, such as APEC, and international bodies
such as the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR),
the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern
Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). The objective of the CCSBT is to ensure, through appropriate
management, the conservation and optimum utilisation of southern bluefin tuna (SBT).
Currently, other signatories to the Convention and members of the Commission are Japan and
New Zealand. Efforts are being made under the Convention for other SBT fishing nations,
including Taiwan, Indonesia and Korea, to comply with the Convention's management
arrangements.
Fish stocks in the Australian Fishing Zone are managed jointly by the Commonwealth and
States depending on agreed arrangements. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority
(AFMA) is the Commonwealth statutory body responsible for the day-to-day management of
Commonwealth fisheries resources. Under the Fisheries Management Act 1991, AFMA is
charged with maintaining and managing the sustainable use of Commonwealth fisheries
resources on behalf of the Australian community and key stakeholders, such as the
commercial fishing industry. The Commonwealth will provide $14 million to AFMA in
1999-2000. This represents approximately 60 per cent of AFMA's annual operating
budget (with the remaining 40 per cent provided by industry). There is a new
budget appropriation for sub-antarctic surveillance and an increase in the base level
funding for foreign fishing vessel apprehensions.
Australian Fisheries Management Authority:
Contact: Australian Fisheries Management Authority -- 02 6272 5029
This new programme will undertake patrolling of Australia's remote sub-Antarctic waters. Expected outcomes are prevention of illegal fishing in the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) and the consequent protection of important fishery resources, especially of the Patagonian toothfish. The Government will provide nearly $4 million to this initiative in 1999-2000.
Contact: Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia -- 02 6272 4566
The Government has committed $2.6 million to carry out an industry development programme for the southern shark fishery. AFMA introduced an individual transferable quota system in early 1999. The new system aims to reduce school shark catches by 35 per cent.
Contact: Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia -- 02 6272 5760
Coastwatch has a marine civil surveillance and response role that is multi-faceted. It
performs activities relating to the detection of attempts to import illicit drugs and
illegal immigrants. Coastwatch also gathers and disseminates environment protection
information to client Commonwealth resource and environment management agencies. In
addition, through these coordinating Commonwealth agencies, Coastwatch provides
information and services for several State authorities.
Coastwatch contributes to Australia's internal environment protection programmes through
regular surveillance of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, other marine conservation
areas, and Australia's Coral Sea and Indian Ocean territories. Coastwatch provides
immediate reports of significant wildlife or sea-life concentrations or mortality, oil
pollution or other environmental damage. Coastwatch's activities are fundamental to the
cost-effective implementation of Australia's Oceans Policy.
The total expenditure for the Coastwatch surveillance programme in 1999-00 is
$39 million. However, the proportion of this funding that is considered to provide an
environmental benefit cannot be estimated due to the range of tasks carried out by
Coastwatch.
Contact: Australian Customs Service -- 02 6275 6368
