Progress of The Victorian Fisheries Authority's Actions in the Giant Crab Fishery Management Plan
Actions | Implementation status as of April 2014 | Comments |
Strategy 1. Rebuild the stock biomass | ||
Fisheries Victoria to convene the annual Total Allowable Catch Forum and Stock Assessment Workshop and apply the agreed decision rules | Action is ongoing | Fisheries Victoria continues to convene annual TACC Forums and to apply the decision rules specified in the giant crab fishery management plan. |
Within the first year of this management plan, Fisheries Victoria and relevant stakeholders will establish a Resource Assessment Group for the purpose of improving fishery assessments and will report to Total Allowable Catch Forum | Action completed | The Rock Lobster and Giant Crab Resource Assessment Group (RLRAG) was established in 2010. Representatives include licence holders, scientists, fishery managers, and members of commercial and recreational fishing sectors. |
Fisheries Victoria to develop improved methods of standardising catch per unit effort in the first year of this management plan | Action is ongoing | Effort has been standardised. A review of the CPUE standardisation process is currently underway by the RLRAG and is expected to be completed in the next six months. |
Fisheries Victoria to review and assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of fishery management tools for the giant crab fishery | Action is ongoing | The effectiveness and appropriateness of fishery management tools are reviewed on an ongoing basis. A review of the CPUE standardisation process is currently underway by the RLRAG. |
Strategy 2. Maintain the ecological integrity of the fishery ecosystem | ||
Fisheries Victoria will, where appropriate, use on-board observers to monitor giant crab discards and by-catch and consider this information in its management decisions | Action is ongoing | A fishery-dependent sampling program that includes the monitoring of discards and bycatch is underway. Levels of bycatch and byproduct are generally quite low and include species such as rock lobster, hermit crabs, leatherjackets and draftboard sharks. |
Fisheries Victoria will continue to monitor the potential impacts of climate change on the giant crab fishery and will develop a response if required | Action is ongoing | Fisheries Victoria continues to monitor for climate change effects through the analysis of fishing activity and communication with industry participants. Potential changes to management of the fishery will be undertaken if required and in consultation with fishers. |
Fisheries Victoria will give high priority to collaborative research with adjacent jurisdictions that is aimed at understanding the potential impacts of climate change on the giant crab fishery | Action is ongoing | Discussions with adjacent jurisdictions to identify collaborative research opportunities are ongoing and part of regular information sharing. |
Strategy 3. Facilitate an economically efficient commercial fishery | ||
Fisheries Victoria will continue to provide a mechanism for fishery operators to vary Giant Crab Fishery Access Licence in specified circumstances | Action is ongoing | Fisheries Victoria continues to provide Giant Crab Fishery Access Licence holders with mechanisms to vary licences in appropriate circumstances. |
Fisheries Victoria to monitor current arrangements for receivers and processors of giant crab during annual compliance reviews and take appropriate action if required | Action is ongoing | The arrangements for receivers and processors are continually monitored and assessed. |
Fisheries Victoria to explore the potential costs and benefits of initiatives and where appropriate, implement measures to enhance quota trading, investment and industry development | Action is not relevant at this time | Seafood Industry Victoria has developed a quota notice board for rock lobster quota that is accessible on their website that, should the need arise, could also be used for giant crab quota. |
The Fisheries Cost Recovery Standing Committee to advise the Department of Primary Industries on an appropriate cost sharing arrangement for economic performance monitoring for the fishery | Action is not completed but is on-track | A prospective cost recovery process was implemented on 1 April 2014. This action will continue to be implemented in accordance with Government policy and legislation. |
On behalf of the giant crab industry, Fisheries Victoria will submit the Victorian Giant Crab Fishery Management Plan for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act | Action completed | This action was completed in 2010 when Fisheries Victoria applied on behalf of the rock lobster fishery for export approval under the EPBC Act.. Current export approval expires on 13 March 2015. |
Strategy 4. Promote stakeholder participation in decision-making | ||
Fisheries Victoria to continue consulting with stakeholders through the annual Stock Assessment Workshop and the Total Allowable Catch Forum | Action is ongoing | Fisheries Victoria continues to consult with stakeholders through the annual TACC forums and statutory consultation (i.e. section 3A of the Fisheries Act). |
Strategy 5. Deliver and monitor cost-effective management arrangements | ||
Fisheries Victoria to continue to determine the annual Giant Crab Fishery Access License levy through the Regulatory Impact Statement process following advice from the Fisheries Cost Recovery Standing Committee | Action is ongoing | A prospective cost recovery process was implemented on 1 April 2014. This action will continue to be implemented in accordance with Government policy and legislation. |
Fisheries Victoria, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, will develop a five-year plan for establishing priorities for investment in research and development in the giant crab fishery | Action is not complete | Research prioritisation will be a focus of annual cost recovery discussions. |
Fisheries Victoria will engage with the commercial sector to identify, develop, fund and report on projects in which the sectors are co-investors | Action is ongoing | Research prioritisation will be a focus of annual cost recovery discussions. |
Fisheries Victoria and industry will monitor research and development projects and outcomes in the Tasmanian giant fishery which are aimed at optimising stock biomass and returns to the industry | Action is ongoing | Fisheries Victoria continues to monitor outcomes of research from the Tasmanian giant crab fishery and liaises regularly with the Tasmanian fisheries management and research organisations. |
Fisheries Victoria will explore opportunities for more efficient and effective use of research and development resources, to enhance capability and to demonstrate the impacts of research and development | Action not completed but is on track | Effective use of research resources will be a focus of the annual cost recovery arrangements. National research priorities are identified, reviewed and prioritised through the Victorian Fisheries Research Advisory Board (VicFrab) managed by Seafood Industry Victoria. Fisheries Victoria is represented on the VicFrab. |
Fisheries Victoria and relevant stakeholders will identify funding opportunities and facilitate increased investment in research and development that supports the giant crab fishery | Action is ongoing | Research funding opportunities will be a focus of the annual cost recovery arrangements. National research priorities are identified, reviewed and prioritised through the Victorian Fisheries Research Advisory Board (VicFrab) managed by Seafood Industry Victoria. Fisheries Victoria is represented on the VicFrab. |
Fisheries Victoria to review the current compliance strategy for the giant crab fishery and target compliance activities based on a formal compliance risk assessment and intelligence reports | Action is ongoing | Compliance strategies are developed and reviewed annually. |
Fisheries Victoria to prepare an annual compliance report for the giant crab fishery that will be presented at the annual management workshop | Action is ongoing | Compliance reports are presented to stakeholders annually at TACC forums. |