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Commonwealth High Seas Fishery - Agency application 2018

« Australia's High Seas Permits

Environmental Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Australian Fisheries Management Authority January 2018
Agency application on ecological sustainability

About the application

The current export approval for the Commonwealth High Seas Fishery is valid until 18 May 2018 and the fishery is now due for assessment for ongoing export accreditation. The Department of the Environment and Energy received an application, High Seas Permits Reassessment January 2018, Submission to the Department of the Environment and Energy, from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in January 2018. 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 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 (EPBC Act).

Consideration will be given to:

  • declaring the Commonwealth High Seas Fishery, as managed consistent with the Commonwealth Fisheries Management Act 1991 and Fisheries Management Regulations 1992, 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 Commonwealth High Seas Fishery under the provisions of the Commonwealth Fisheries Management Act 1991 and Fisheries Management Regulations 1992.

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

High Seas Permits Reassessment January 2018, submission to the Department of the Environment and Energy (PDF - 653.06 KB)
High Seas Permits Reassessment January 2018, submission to the Department of the Environment and Energy (DOCX - 476.59 KB) ​

The call for public comments is open from 14 February 2018 until 6 April 2018.

Please submit your comments to:

The Director
Wildlife Trade Assessments Section
Department of the Environment and Energy
GPO Box 787
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 Energy 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 Wildlife Trade Assessments Section (02) 6274 1917.