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Managing Australian Fisheries
Australia’s commercial fisheries are managed by the Commonwealth, the states/Northern Territory or though a joint authority comprising of the Commonwealth and one or more states/Northern Territory. A number of fisheries cross state, Territory, and Commonwealth jurisdictions which created the need for the development of an arrangement that provided practical management of the fisheries across these jurisdictions. OCS arrangements were first established in the mid 1980s to address this need, and to better reflect fish abundance, distributions and fishing practices.
Fisheries in OCS arrangements are defined in terms of species, fishing method and area. They underpin the major fishery management plans implemented under Commonwealth, state or Northern Territory laws. The OCS also forms the basis for ongoing cooperation between governments who share the management responsibilities. The OCS arrangements also establish fisheries joint authorities, under which a state or the Northern Territory undertake the day-to-day management of the fishery with the Commonwealth focusing on the broader management arrangements.
In the absence of an OCS arrangement, state/territory laws apply to coastal waters (up to 3nm) and Commonwealth laws apply from those waters out to the limit of the Australian fishing zone (200nm).
Currently there are fisheries OCS arrangements are in place with all states and the Northern Territory. They have been negotiated on the broad concept that localised fisheries adjacent to a state should be managed by the state, and the Commonwealth should manage fisheries occurring off more than one state or where there is involvement of foreign fishing boats.
AFMA, is responsible for the day-to-day management of Commonwealth fisheries. For further information regarding these fisheries visit the AFMA website.
The Commonwealth has generally limited its jurisdiction to commercial fishing with the state/territory fisheries department’s assuming responsibility for recreational fishing.
Fisheries in OCS arrangements are defined in terms of species, fishing method and area. They underpin the major fishery management plans implemented under Commonwealth, state or Northern Territory laws. The OCS also forms the basis for ongoing cooperation between governments who share the management responsibilities. The OCS arrangements also establish fisheries joint authorities, under which a state or the Northern Territory undertake the day-to-day management of the fishery with the Commonwealth focusing on the broader management arrangements.
In the absence of an OCS arrangement, state/territory laws apply to coastal waters (up to 3nm) and Commonwealth laws apply from those waters out to the limit of the Australian fishing zone (200nm).
Currently there are fisheries OCS arrangements are in place with all states and the Northern Territory. They have been negotiated on the broad concept that localised fisheries adjacent to a state should be managed by the state, and the Commonwealth should manage fisheries occurring off more than one state or where there is involvement of foreign fishing boats.
AFMA, is responsible for the day-to-day management of Commonwealth fisheries. For further information regarding these fisheries visit the AFMA website.
The Commonwealth has generally limited its jurisdiction to commercial fishing with the state/territory fisheries department’s assuming responsibility for recreational fishing.
Last Updated: 11 Jun 2008
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