West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery - Agency application

« West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery

Environmental Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Western Australian Department of Fisheries – March 2015

Agency application on ecological sustainability

About the application

The current export approval for the Western Australian West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery is valid until 28 May 2015 and the fishery is now due for assessment for ongoing export accreditation. The Department of the Environment received an application, Application to the Department of the Environment on the Western Rock Lobster Managed Fishery, from the Department of Fisheries Western Australia in March 2015. 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 Western Australian West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery, as managed consistent with the Western Australian Fish Resources Management Act 1994, 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 Western Australian West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery, under the provisions of the   Fish Resources Management Act 1994.

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

Application to the Department of the Environment on the Western Rock Lobster Managed Fishery (PDF - 3.6 MB)
Appendix 1 – Further Information in Support of the WCRLF’s Application (PDF - 5.3 MB)
Appendix 2a – West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery Status Report (2012-2013) (PDF - 683.79 KB)
Appendix 2b – West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery Status Report (2013-2014) (PDF - 631.81 KB)

The call for public comments is open from 25 March 2015 until 5 May 2015.

Please submit your comments to:

The Director
Sustainable Fisheries Section
Department of the Environment
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 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.