« Commonwealth Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery
Environmental Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Australian Fisheries Management Authority, October 2022
Agency application on ecological sustainability
Important Update
On 6 October 2022, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water received an amended application for assessment of the Commonwealth Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery. The amended application replaces and corrects information in the previous applications, clarifying information relating to the Ecological Risk Assessment for the fishery.
The amended application is now available for public consultation until 8 November 2022.
About the application
The current export approval for the Commonwealth Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery expires on 11 November 2022 and the fishery is due for assessment for ongoing export accreditation. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water received an application from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority on 11 May 2022 and undertook public consultation on this application from 26 May 2022 until 1 July 2022. A revised application replacing and correcting information on protected species, shark and ray interactions in the fishery, was received on 26 September 2022 and was released for public consultation on 28 September 2022.
On 6 October 2022, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water received an amended application for assessment of the Commonwealth Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery.
The application has been prepared to address the 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 (Cth) (EPBC Act).
Consideration will be given to:
- declaring the Commonwealth Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery, as managed consistent with the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth) and the Fisheries Management Regulations 2019 (Cth), as an approved wildlife trade operation under section 303FN of the EPBC Act.
- including in the list of exempt native specimens, specimens harvested in the Commonwealth Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery, as managed consistent with the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth) and the Fisheries Management Regulations 2019 (Cth).
- accrediting the management plan, regime or policy for the Commonwealth Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery in force under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth) and the Fisheries Management Regulations 2019 (Cth), under sections 208A, 222A, 245 and 265 of the EPBC Act.
In accordance with the provisions of sections 303FR and 303DC of the EPBC Act, you are invited to comment on this proposal.
How can I get involved?
Download the application
AFMA submission for reassessment WTBF 2022 – revised 6 October 2022 (PDF 1.0 MB)
AFMA submission for reassessment WTBF 2022 – revised 6 October 2022 (DOCX 5.6 MB)
Send your comments
The call for public comments on the revised (6 October 2022) application is open from 10 October 2022 until 8 November 2022.
Please submit your comments to:
The Director
Sustainable Fisheries Section
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
GPO Box 3090
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Submissions may also be emailed to sustainablefisheries@environment.gov.au
Any comments received will form part of the documentation provided to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Water, or the Minister’s delegate for a decision. Copies of comments may be made available to other persons with a particular interest in the application. Please advise in your comment if you wish to claim any areas of confidentiality.