Review of the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch

Submission received

In the years since the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch was developed, the broader legislative and policy environment covering Australia’s oceans and their sustainable use has evolved substantially. The social and economic circumstances of fisheries have also changed both domestically and internationally.

In response to the changing policy environment and to facilitate a more streamlined regulatory environment, the department is undertaking a review of the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch.

The review of the bycatch policy seeks to improve the management of bycatch in Commonwealth fisheries by developing a revised policy framework intended to avoid, minimise and manage bycatch. The bycatch policy aims to provide a practical, cost effective framework that supports environmental and fisheries legislative requirements.

On Wednesday 28 March 2012, Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, released the terms of reference for the review.

The review is overseen by a government interagency steering committee and informed by a stakeholder and government advisory committee.

• Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch
• Terms of reference for the review of the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch
• Terms of reference for the advisory committee for the review of the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch

Public consultation period is now closed

Public release of issues paper

On 9 November 2012 DAFF released the bycatch policy review’s issues paper for public consultation. The issues paper was developed to promote discussion and feedback on issues relevant to the bycatch policy that may require refinement, elaboration or further development. Interested members of the public were invited to contribute to the bycatch policy review by providing a submission on issues canvassed in this issues paper or other matters relevant to the review. The public consultation period closed on 21 December 2012.

• Review of the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch Issues paper PDF [1.3 MB]
• Review of the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch Issues paper Word [734 KB]

Should you have any enquiries about the review, issues paper or submission process please contact the department at bycatchreview@daff.gov.au.

Relevant documents

Reports referenced in the issues paper are available here:

• AAD 2006. Threat Abatement Plan 2006 for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations, Australian Antarctic Division, Department of the Environment and Water Resources PDF [1.1 MB], Kingston.
• Bensley, N, Stobutzki, I, Woodhams, J and Mooney, C 2010, Review of wildlife bycatch management in Commonwealth fisheries, BRS report prepared for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Fisheries Policy Branch PDF [480 KB], Canberra, July.
• FAO 2003. Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries: 4. Fisheries Management, Supplement 2. The ecosystem approach to fisheries. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 112 p.
• Hobday A.J., A.D.M. Smith, I.C. Stobutzki, C. Bulman, R. Daley, J.M. Dambacher, R.A. Deng, J. Dowdney, M. Fuller, D. Furlani, S.P. Griffiths, D. Johnson, R. Kenyon, I.A. Knuckey, S.D. Ling,, R. Pitcher, K.J. Sainsbury, M. Sporcic, T. Smith, C. Turnbull, T.I. Walker, S.E. Wayte, H. Webb, A. Williams, B.S. Wise and S. Zhou 2011. Ecological risk assessment for the effects of fishing. Fisheries Research PDF [1.1 MB], doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2011.01.013.
• Scandol, J.P., Ives, M.C. and Lockett, M.M., 2009. Development of national guidelines to improve the application of risk–based methods in the scope, implementation and interpretation of stock assessments for data–poor species. Final report to the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation for Project No. 2007/016. Industry & Investment NSW – Final Report Series PDF [5 MB] No. 115. Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence, NSW, Australia. 184pp.
• Phillips K., F. Giannini, E. Lawrence and N. Bensley 2010. Cumulative assessment of the catch of non–target species in Commonwealth fisheries: a scoping study. Bureau of Rural Sciences PDF [210 KB], Canberra, 42 pp.
• Raudzens, E 2007, At sea testing of the Popeye Fishbox bycatch reduction device onboard the FV Adelaide Pearl for approval in Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery, AFMA PDF [1.2 MB], Canberra.
• Sainsbury, K. 2008. Best Practice Reference Points for Australian Fisheries. Report R2001/0999 to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Department of the Environment and Heritage PDF [1.5 MB], 159 p.
• Zhou S., Smith T. And Fuller M. 2007.  Rapid quantitative risk assessment for fish species in selected Commonwealth fisheries.  CSIRO Report to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority PDF [1.3 MB], 125 p.