Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery
Environmental assessment under the EPBC Act
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts - May 2007
PDF file
About the assessment report
The Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) Fishery lies in waters adjacent to the Islands of the same name. The Islands are Australia’s most remote sovereign territory and are located on the Kerguelen Plateau in the south Indian Ocean, about 4,000 kilometres south-west of Perth. The HIMI Fishery extends from 12 nautical miles offshore to the edge of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends to 200 nautical miles, or to the maritime boundary with Iles Kerguelen.
These islands are the only unmodified example of a sub-Antarctic island ecosystem in the world. They provide valuable breeding and feeding areas for many species of marine mammals and birds, while supporting a vast array of endemic invertebrates. They are included on the register of the National Estate and the World Heritage List.
No fishing is allowed within the Marine Reserves and only limited fishing activities have been allowed within the Conservation Zones. The conservation and fishery values of the Conservation Zones are currently being assessed and a decision by the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources is expected shortly. See the Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s (AFMA’s) “Annual Status Report – Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery, March 2007” (AFMA’s 2007 submission) for further information on the area covered by the HIMI Fishery.
See also
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