« Commonwealth Northern Prawn Fishery
Environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Australian Fisheries Management Authority October 2013
Agency application on ecological sustainability
About the application
The current export approval for the Northern Prawn Fishery is valid until 9 January 2014 and the fishery is now due for assessment for ongoing export accreditation. The Department of the Environment received an application from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in October 2013. The application has been prepared to address the Australian Government 'Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries - 2nd Edition' and to provide updates on the implementation of recommendations made in the previous Australian Government assessment. The application will be used to assess the operation of the fishery for the purposes of Parts 13 and 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Consideration will be given to:
- declaring the Northern Prawn Fishery, as managed consistent with the Fisheries Management Act 1991, Fisheries Management Regulations 1992 and the Northern Prawn Fishery Management Plan 1995, as an approved wildlife trade operation under section 303FN of the EPBC Act, and
- including in the list of exempt native specimens, specimens harvested in the Northern Prawn Fishery under the provisions of the Fisheries Management Act 1991, Fisheries Management Regulations 1992 and the Northern Prawn Fishery Management Plan 1995.
In accordance with the provisions of sections 303FR and 303DC of the EPBC Act, you are invited to comment on this proposal.
Download the application
NPF Annual Status Report (PDF - 540.81 KB)
NPF Annual Status Report (DOC - 869.5 KB)
The call for public comments is open from 22 October 2013 until 22 November 2013.
Please submit your comments to:
The Director
Sustainable Fisheries Section
Department of the Environment
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Submissions may also be sent by fax to (02) 6274 2875, or email to sustainablefisheries@environment.gov.au
Any comments received will form part of the documentation provided to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment for a decision. Copies of comments may be made available to other persons with a particular interest in the application. If you wish to claim confidentiality for any part of your comments, would you please discuss the matter with the Director of the Sustainable Fisheries Section (02) 6274 1917.