Australian High Seas Fisheries - Agency application 2013

Agency application on ecological sustainability

About the application

The current export approval for the Australian High Seas Fisheries is valid until 24 May 2013 and the fisheries are now due for assessment for ongoing export accreditation. The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities received an application, 'Submission to SEWPAC - High Seas Permits - February 2013', from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in February 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 submission will be used to assess the operation of the fisheries for the purposes of Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Consideration will be given to including in the list of exempt native specimens, specimens harvested on the high seas by Australian flagged vessels under the provisions of the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

In accordance with the provisions of section 303DC of the EPBC Act, you are invited to comment on this proposal.

Download the submission

• Submission to SEWPAC - High Seas Permits (PDF - 398KB) |  (Word - 374KB) - February 2013
• High Seas Sustainability Assessment Report Report (PDF - 4MB)
• Bottom Fishery Impacts Assessment - Australian report for the SPRFMO (PDF - 4MB)
• Bottom Fishery Impacts Assessment - Australian report for the SIOFA (PDF - 12MB)

The call for public comments is open from 22 February 2013 until 28 March 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.