Summary of the Giant Crab Fishery Management Plan

Objective Strategy Target Action Performance Indicator Lead Agency Key Partner(s) Implementation Schedule Funding Source
Objective 1 Sustainability of the giant crab resource Strategy 1
Rebuild the stock biomass 		Demonstrate commitment by DPI to effectively engage stakeholders in decision-making processes The Victorian Fisheries Authority to convene the annual Total Allowable Catch Forum and Stock Assessment Workshop and apply the agreed decision rules Stakeholder consultation continues through annual Fishery Management and Stock Assessment Workshops and Total Allowable Commercial Catch Fora The Victorian Fisheries Authority Seafood Industry Victoria, relevant stakeholders Ongoing Giant crab research budget (Stock Assessment Workshop) Giant crab management budget (Fishery Management Workshop and Total Allowable Catch Forum)
   Develop effective tools for estimating giant crab biomass Within the first year of this management plan, The Victorian Fisheries Authority and relevant stakeholders will establish a Resource Assessment Group for the purpose of improving fishery assessments and will report to Total Allowable Catch Forum Giant crab stock assessments are effective tools for managing the giant crab resource The Victorian Fisheries Authority Relevant stakeholders First year of plan Giant crab research budget
    The Victorian Fisheries Authority to develop improved methods of standardising catch per unit effort in the first year of this management plan Catch per unit effort provides an adequate measure of giant crab biomass The Victorian Fisheries Authority Relevant stakeholders First year of plan Giant crab research budget
   Appropriate management strategies ensure sustainable management of the giant crab resource The Victorian Fisheries Authority to review and assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of fishery management tools for the giant crab fishery Fishery management tools are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain appropriate to manage the giant crab fishery and rebuild stocks The Victorian Fisheries Authority Relevant stakeholders Ongoing Giant crab management budget
   Increased stakeholder responsibility for natural resource management Seafood Industry Victoria to prepare a code of practice that will include appropriate practices for returning undersize giant crabs and berried females to the sea alive The giant crab industry assumes greater responsibility for managing the giant crab resource Seafood Industry Victoria The Victorian Fisheries Authority During the life of this management plan Subject to available funding
   The effect of fishing gear on habitat and the ecosystem in general is minimised Industry will monitor means, including changes to pot design, to reduce giant crab mortalities Mortalities of giant crabs in pots is measurably reduced Industry The Victorian Fisheries Authority Ongoing  
 Strategy 2
Maintain the ecological integrity of the fishery ecosystem 		The effect of fishing gear on habitat and the ecosystem in general is minimised Industry to report incidental interactions with protected species using the Protected Species Interactions form Non-compliance with the requirement to report protected wildlife is reduced Industry The Victorian Fisheries Authority Ongoing  
   Giant crab discards and by-catch levels are understood and considered in stock assessments The Victorian Fisheries Authority will, where appropriate, use onboard observers to monitor giant crab discards and by-catch and consider this information in its management decisions Management decisions regarding the giant crab resource are appropriately informed The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry Ongoing Giant crab research budget
   The current understanding of climate change informs management and business decisions The Victorian Fisheries Authority will continue to monitor the potential impacts of climate change on the giant crab fishery and will develop a response if required The Victorian Fisheries Authority will continue to monitor the potential effects of climate change on the giant crab
fishery and will develop a response if required 		The Victorian Fisheries Authority   Ongoing Giant crab management budget
    The Victorian Fisheries Authority 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 Collaborative research aimed at understanding the potential effects of climate change is undertaken The Victorian Fisheries Authority   Ongoing Giant crab research budget

Objective 2

Resource access and utilisation

Strategy 3

Facilitate an economically efficient commercial fishery

 The giant crab fishery is
commercially and administratively efficient 		The Victorian Fisheries Authority will continue to provide a
mechanism for fishery operators to vary Giant Crab Fishery Access Licence in specified circumstances 		The process used to varying Giant Crab Fishery Access Licences in specified circumstances is undertaken efficiently The Victorian Fisheries Authority   Ongoing Giant crab management budget
   Receivers and processors of giant crabs are appropriately authorised The Victorian Fisheries Authority to monitor current arrangements for receivers and processors of giant crab during annual compliance reviews and take appropriate action if required Current arrangements for receivers and processors are regularly reviewed The Victorian Fisheries Authority   Ongoing Giant crab management budget
   Effective and efficient fishery management The Victorian Fisheries Authority to explore the potential costs and benefits of initiatives and where appropriate, implement measures to enhance quota trading, investment and industry development Where appropriate, measures to enhance quota trading, investment and industry development are implemented The Victorian Fisheries Authority Seafood Industry
Victoria 		Ongoing Giant crab management budget
   An efficient and economically viable commercial fishing industry Seafood Industry Victoria to undertake an economic survey and analysis of the giant crab fishery and develop indicators of economic and financial performance within the first year of this fishery management plan The giant crab fishery is efficient and economically viable Seafood Industry
Victoria 		The Victorian Fisheries Authority Within the first year of this fishery management plan Subject to available funding
   Appropriate cost-sharing arrangements re in place between The Victorian Fisheries Authority and the commercial fishing industry 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 Economic monitoring of the giant crab fishery is appropriately resourced Fisheries Cost Recovery Standing Committee Industry Ongoing Giant crab management budget
   Commonwealth authority to export giant crabs is
maintained 		On behalf of the giant crab industry, The Victorian Fisheries Authority will submit the Victorian Giant Crab Fishery Management Plan for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act The Victorian Giant Crab Fishery Management Plan is assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry Following the declaration of the giant crab fishery
management plan 		Giant crab management budget
    Seafood Industry Victoria to lead subsequent reassessments of the fishery under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act The giant crab fishery is appropriately authorised under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to export its products Seafood Industry Victoria The Victorian Fisheries Authority As necessary Subject to available funding
   The giant crab industry has a diverse range of markets for its products Industry, with the assistance of The Victorian Fisheries Authority, to improve its capacity to market giant crab products Industry expands its ability to market giant crab products Industry The Victorian Fisheries Authority During the life of this management
plan 		Subject to available funding

Objective 3
Cost effective and participatory
management

Strategy 4
Promote stakeholder
participation in decisionmaking 		A demonstrated commitment by commercial fishers to sustainable fishing practices Seafood Industry Victoria to produce an overarching code of practice that documents and demonstrates the methods used by giant crab fishers to operate in an environmentally and socially
sustainable manner 		Giant crab fishers operate in an environmentally sustainable manner Seafood Industry Victoria   During the life of this management plan Subject to available funding
   A demonstrated commitment by DPI to effectively engage stakeholders in decision-making processes The Victorian Fisheries Authority to continue consulting with stakeholders through the annual Stock Assessment Workshop and the Total Allowable Catch Forum The Victorian Fisheries Authority consults with stakeholders during decision-making processes The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry Ongoing Giant crab management budget
 Strategy 5
Deliver and monitor cost-effective management arrangements 		The costs of fishery management are equitably shared between industry and government The Victorian Fisheries Authority 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 The annual levy for giant crab licences is set in accordance with the principles of cost recovery The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry Ongoing Giant crab management budget
   Informed and prioritised research and development plans The Victorian Fisheries Authority, 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 Research and development meets the needs of giant crab fishery management and stakeholders The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry First year of plan Giant crab research budget
   Research and development requirements are informed by stakeholder input The Victorian Fisheries Authority will engage with the commercial sector to identify, develop, fund and report on projects in which the sectors are co-investors The capacity to plan research and development is improved The Victorian Fisheries Authority Relevant stakeholders Ongoing Giant crab research budget
   Evidence-based fisheries management The Victorian Fisheries Authority 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 Giant crab management arrangements are informed by the outcomes of fisheries research The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry Ongoing Giant crab management budget
   Informed, prioritised and efficient research and development The Victorian Fisheries Authority 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 Research and development in the giant crab fishery is relevant and cost effective The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry Ongoing Giant crab research budget
   A diverse funding base for fisheries management research and development is available The Victorian Fisheries Authority and relevant stakeholders will identify funding opportunities and facilitate increased investment in research and development that supports the giant crab fishery Investment in cooperative research and development is obtained The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry Ongoing Giant crab research budget
 Strategy 6
Achieve compliance with legislation 		Non-compliance with fisheries regulations is effectively managed The Victorian Fisheries Authority 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 Compliance activities focus on the main threats identified during a compliance risk assessment The Victorian Fisheries Authority Industry Ongoing Giant crab compliance budget
    The Victorian Fisheries Authority to prepare an annual compliance report for the giant crab fishery that will be presented at the annual management workshop Stakeholders are informed of compliance activities and results for the giant crab fishery The Victorian Fisheries Authority   Ongoing Giant crab compliance budget
    Industry to develop an education and communication strategy for the giant crab fishery Industry takes a participatory role in giant crab fishery compliance Industry The Victorian Fisheries Authority During the life of this management plan Subject to available funding