Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery - Agency application 2013
« Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery
Environmental Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Australian Fisheries Management Authority, December 2012
Agency application on ecological sustainability
The current export approval for the Commonwealth Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery is valid until 21 April 2013 and the fishery is now due for assessment for ongoing export accreditation. The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities received an application, Status Report for Re-assessment for Export Approval Under the EPBC Act - Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery - December 2012, from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in December 2012. 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 submission 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 Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery as managed consistent with the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery Management Plan 2002 in force under the Commonwealth Fisheries Management Act 1991, 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 Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery under the provisions of the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery Management Plan 2002 in force under the Commonwealth Fisheries Management Act 1991.
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
The call for public comments is open from 7 January 2013 until 8 February 2013.
Please submit your comments to;
The Director
Sustainable Fisheries Section
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Submissions may also be sent by fax to (02) 6275 9374, or email to sustainablefisheries@environment.gov.au
Any comments received will form part of the documentation provided to the Australian Government Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities 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.