Independent audit of the voluntary surrender of fishing concessions
Ernst & Young was commissioned to undertake an independent audit of the voluntary surrender of fishing concessions (licence buyback) with particular reference to the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (BSCZSF).
The objective of the independent audit was to examine the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry’s administration of the tender evaluation processes for the buy back of fishing concessions and to identify if the tenders were evaluated appropriately and consistently in accordance with the Request for Tender evaluation criteria.
The minister issued a media release announcing the release of the audit findings on 17 October 2008.
Background
The competitive tender process was part of the Securing our Fishing Future package, where $150 million of the $220 million was allocated to the buyback of Commonwealth fishing licences with the aim of reducing excess fishing in overfished fisheries.
The report
Audit of Business Exit Assistance - Voluntary Surrender of Fishing Concessions (licence buyback) 
PDF [371kb]
