Agency overview and resources

1.1 Strategic direction

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) was established under the Fisheries Administration Act 1991 to manage the resources of Australia’s Commonwealth fisheries on behalf of the Australian community using the provisions of the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

AFMA is a prescribed agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act). Prior to 1 July 2008, AFMA was a statutory authority subject to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act).

The AFMA commission is responsible for exercising AFMA’s domestic fisheries management functions and powers. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for assisting the commission, including giving effect to its decisions, and for exercising AFMA’s foreign compliance functions and powers. The Chief Executive Officer is also a commissioner.

Legislative objectives require AFMA to pursue the implementation of efficient and cost effective fisheries management consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development and maximising the net economic returns for the Australian community from the management of Australian fisheries. AFMA is to have regard to the impact of fishing on non-target species and the long-term sustainability of the marine environment.

In support of the objectives, AFMA’s work concentrates on providing fisheries management arrangements, compliance programs, licensing services and developing operational policies and regulations based on understanding and monitoring Australian marine living resources affected by Commonwealth fisheries.

AFMA also provides fisheries management services for the Protected Zone Joint Authority under the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984.

AFMA undertakes its foreign compliance functions through participation in the Australian Government’s civil maritime surveillance and response program and outreach activities providing advice and training in neighbouring countries. AFMA’s role includes fisheries enforcement, planning, training and vessel disposal activities. The activities protect Commonwealth and State-managed fisheries from illegal foreign fishing and contribute to managing wider border security issues including biosecurity.

When developing and implementing fisheries management arrangements, AFMA works in partnership with stakeholders, including commercial fishing operators and associations, researchers, environment/conservation organisations and others who have an interest in how Australia’s Commonwealth fisheries are managed - such as recreational/charter fishing and Indigenous interests. AFMA engages with stakeholder groups through management advisory committees, liaison officers, port visits, newsletters and direct mail to concession holders in Commonwealth fisheries.

These partnership arrangements are especially important as AFMA continues to pursue greater co-management of fisheries by encouraging AFMA’s stakeholders to assume more responsibility for managing fisheries to ensure their ecological sustainability.

In managing Commonwealth fisheries, AFMA is also required to pursue the Government’s targets in relation to the recovery of costs. Commonwealth fisheries are managed in accordance with the Australian Government cost recovery policy. The commercial fishing industry pays for costs directly attributed to and recoverable from the fishing industry while the Government pays for foreign compliance and activities that benefit the broader community.

In conjunction with this package, in December 2005 the then Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation directed AFMA under section 91 of the Fisheries Administration Act 1991 to take actions to improve the biological and economic status of Commonwealth fisheries. These policy requirements were reflected in AFMA’s subsequent fisheries management decisions and actions.

Other policy initiatives announced by the Australian Government, which affect Commonwealth fisheries management include an expanded fisheries research program, continued development of international fisheries partnerships to ensure the sustainable management of migratory species currently managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, examination of incentive schemes in the development of new fisheries technologies to reduce the impact of fishing on bycatch, non-target and endangered species, the review of cancellation provisions of statutory fishing rights and increased domestic enforcement and compliance.

The Securing our Fishing Future initiative, announced in November 2005, provided a $220 million adjustment package to help secure Commonwealth fish stocks and a profitable future for the fishing industry. The initiative involved three major elements including a $149 million fishing licence buyback scheme and $70 million complementary assistance package, changes to Commonwealth fisheries management and proposed Marine Parks for the South-east region.

1.2 Agency resource statement

Table 1.1 shows the total resources from all origins. The table summarises how resources will be applied by outcome and by administered and departmental classification.

Table 1.1: Australian Fisheries Management Authority Resource Statement—Budget estimates for 2009–10 as at Budget May 2009

1.3 Budget measures

Budget measures relating to AFMA are detailed in Budget Paper No. 2 and are summarised below.

Table 1.2: Australian Fisheries Management Authority 2009–10 Budget measures

1.4 Transition from outcomes and outputs to outcomes and programs

From the 2009–10 Budget, all General Government Sector (GGS) entities will be reporting on a program basis. The table below outlines the transition from the 2008–09 Budget year (as at Additional Estimates) which was presented in administered items, outputs and output groups to the program reporting framework used for the 2009–10 Budget. The table also captures revisions made to GGS outcome statements under the Operation Sunlight Outcome Statements Review.

Figure 1: Transition table

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