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Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery - Agency application 2016

« Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery

Environmental Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Australian Fisheries Management Authority August 2016

Agency application on ecological sustainability

About the application

The current export approval for the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery is valid until 9 May 2017 and the fishery, under proposed Torres Strait Fishery (Quotas for Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar)) Management Plan 2016, is now due for reassessment.

The Department of the Environment and Energy received an application, Strategic Assessment Report for the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery, from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in August 2016. 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 10, 13 and 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Consideration will be given to:

  • endorsing the plan of management under section 146 of the EPBC Act
  • declaring under section 33 of the EPBC Act, that actions approved in accordance with the accredited arrangement do not require approval under Part 9 of the EPBC Act.
  • declaring the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery, as managed consistent with the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 and the Torres Strait Fisheries Regulations 1985, 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 Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery under the provisions of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 and the Torres Strait Fisheries Regulations 1985.

In accordance with the provisions of sections 146, 303FR and 303DC of the EPBC Act, you are invited to comment on this proposal.

Download the application

Strategic Assessment Report: Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery (PDF - 695.38 KB)
Appendices: Strategic Assessment Report: Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery - August 2016 (PDF - 3.24 MB) ​

The call for public comments is open from 26 August 2016 until 29 September 2016.

Please submit your comments to:

The Director
Sustainable Fisheries Section
Department of the Environment and Energy
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Submissions may also be sent by fax to (02) 6274 2875, or email 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 Sustainable Fisheries Section (02) 6274 1917