COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION – VICTORIAN CORNER INLET FISHERY, SEPTEMBER 2020
I, Stephen Oxley, First Assistant Secretary, Heritage, Reef and Wildlife Trade Division, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment, have considered in accordance with section 303FN of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the application from the Victorian Corner Inlet Fishery, and advice on the ecological sustainability of the operation. I am satisfied on those matters specified in section 303FN of the EPBC Act. I hereby declare the operations for the harvesting of specimens that are or are derived from fish or invertebrates, taken in the Victorian Corner Inlet Fishery as defined in the management regime in force under the Fisheries Act 1995 (Victoria), and the Fisheries Regulations 2019 (Victoria), but not including:
(a) specimens that belong to taxa listed under section 209 of the EPBC Act (Australia’s List of Migratory Species), or
(b) specimens that belong to taxa listed under section 248 of the EPBC Act (Australia’s List of Marine Species), or
(c) specimens that belong to eligible listed threatened species, as defined under section 303BC of the EPBC Act, or
(d) specimens that belong to taxa listed under section 303CA of the EPBC Act (Australia’s CITES List).
to be an approved wildlife trade operation, in accordance with subsection 303FN(2) and paragraph 303FN(10)(d), for the purposes of the EPBC Act.
Unless amended or revoked, this declaration:
a) is valid until 31 August 2023 and;
b) is subject to the conditions applied under section 303FT specified in the Schedule.
Dated this 17th day of September 2020
………….…….………Stephen Oxley…………………………
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment
Notes:
1. Under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, a person whose interests are affected by this decision may apply for a statement of reasons and for independent review of the decision. An application for a statement of reasons may be made in writing to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment within 28 days of the date of the declaration. An application for independent review may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on payment of the relevant fee within 28 days of the date of the declaration, or if reasons are sought, within 28 days of receipt of reasons. Further information may be obtained from the Director, Wildlife Trade Assessments Section, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Telephone: (02) 6274 1917 Email: sustainablefisheries@awe.gov.au.
Declaration of the harvest operations of the Victorian Corner Inlet Fishery as an approved wildlife trade operation, September 2020
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS (section 303FT)
Relating to the harvesting of fish specimens that are, or are derived from, fish or invertebrates, other than specimens of species listed under Part 13 and Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), taken in the Victorian Corner Inlet Fishery:
1. Operation of the Victorian Corner Inlet Fishery will be carried out in accordance with the management regime in force under the Victorian Fisheries Act 1995, and the Victorian Fisheries Regulations 2019.
2. The Victorian Fisheries Authority to inform the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment of any intended material changes to the Victorian Corner Inlet Fishery management arrangements that may affect the assessment against which Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 decisions are made.
3. The Victorian Fisheries Authority to produce and present reports to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment annually as per Appendix B of the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries – 2nd Edition.
4. By 28 February 2022, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (in consultation with experts and stakeholders) to develop a management plan for the Victorian Corner Inlet Fishery and provide a copy of the declared management plan to the Department. If the outcomes of current research projects on seagrass beds indicate opportunities for improved management in the fishery this should be taken into account in the development of the management plan.
5. By 28 February 2022, the Victorian Fisheries Authority to undertake a survey to collect up-to-date information on recreational and Indigenous take in the fishery.
6. By 28 February 2022, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (in consultation with experts and stakeholders) to develop a monitoring program, with particular focus on improvements to byproduct and bycatch monitoring.