Upper-Slope Dogfish management poses potential consequences for the industry

Australian Fisheries Management Authority ( AFMA )

Friday November 30, 2012
AFMA Update, Volume 9, Issue 16

Harrison’s Dogfish and Southern Dogfish are being considered for threatened species listing by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, the Hon. Tony Burke MP.

As part of this process Minister Burke will assess whether AFMA’s actions are sufficient to ensure that the species are sustainably managed.

AFMA has revised its Upper-slope Dogfish Management Strategy in consultation with industry, scientists, state and Commonwealth government departments and environmental organisations, and has submitted it to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee for consideration and recommendation to the Environment Minister.

The strategy includes area closures and other measures to protect the dogfish, proposed to be implemented by 31 December 2012.

The categories of threatened species listing range from ‘conservation dependent’ to ‘extinct’ – or the minister may decide that the species do not warrant listing at all. The minister is due to make his decision by 28 February 2013.

If the two species are listed in a category greater than ‘conservation dependent’, Wildlife Trade Operation accreditation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 may not be approved, which will impact the fishing industry, mainly in the South East Trawl sector.

In this case individual operators may need to apply for environmental approval to continue fishing. There may also be grounds for the trawling fishing method to be listed as a key threatening process based on impact on the listed species.

For more information please contact Brad Milic, A/g Senior Manager Demersal and Midwater Fisheries, on 02 6225 5389 or brad.milic@afma.gov.au.

Source: AFMA

 

Leave a Reply