COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION – Queensland Line Fishery (Reef), January 2021
I, LAURA TIMMINS, Senior Director, Wildlife Trade Office, 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 Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, public comments on the proposal as required under section 303FR 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 Queensland Line Fishery (Reef) as defined in the management regime in force under the Fisheries Act 1994 (Queensland) and Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019, Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019, Fisheries Declaration 2019 and Fisheries Quota Declaration 2019 (Queensland), 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 18 January 2024 and;
b) is subject to the conditions applied under section 303FT specified in the Schedule.
Dated this 22nd day of January 2021
Laura Timmins
………….…….…………………………………
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment
Notes:
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@environment.gov.au.
Declaration of the harvest operations of the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef) as an approved wildlife trade operation, January 2021
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 Queensland Line Fishery (Reef):
Condition 1
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must ensure the operation of the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef) is carried out in accordance with the management arrangements specified in the Queensland Fisheries Act 1994, Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019, Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019, Fisheries Declaration 2019, and the Fisheries Quota Declaration 2019.
Condition 2
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must inform the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment of any intended material changes to the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef) management arrangements, so the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment can determine if these changes affect the assessment against which Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 decisions are made.
Condition 3:
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must inform the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment of any intended changes to fisheries legislation that may affect the legislative instruments relevant to this approval.
Condition 4
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must provide annual reports on the Line Fishery (Reef) to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment every 12 months, from the date of the approval of the wildlife trade operation. These reports must be consistent with Appendix B of the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries – 2nd Edition.
Condition 5
By 1 July 2022 the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must commence work to improve species-specific information on retained and non-retained catch levels in the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef), including, where possible, information on mortality of non-retained catch.
Condition 6
By 31 December 2021 the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries provide a review of existing management arrangements for Crimson, Goldband and Saddletail Snappers to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. This review must consider the appropriateness of existing minimum size limits and other management controls.
Where this review indicates further stock assessment or management changes are necessary, these actions must be commenced by 31 December 2022.
Condition 7
By 31 December 2021 the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must complete a stock assessment for Crimson Snapper stocks and report outcomes of the assessment to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Condition 8
By 31 December 2021 the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must publish a Level 2 Ecological Risk Assessment for the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef) based on management strategies described in the Reef Line Fishery Harvest Strategy 2020-2025.
Measures to mitigate high risks described in the Level 2 Ecological Risk Assessment must be described with implementation timeframes by 1 July 2022.