I, JESSICA HOEY, Director, Sustainable Fisheries Section, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water, hereby vary under paragraph 303FT(7)(b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the declaration of an approved wildlife trade operation dated 5 September 2023 for the Victorian Corner Inlet Fishery as defined in the management regime in force under the Fisheries Management Act 1995 (VIC), such that the condition specified in Schedule 1 to that declaration is varied as follows:

In Condition 5, delete the words

The Victorian Fisheries Authority must review bycatch and discard reporting measures to ensure the information collected sufficiently and reliably demonstrates the accuracy of all catch (including bycatch and discards) and protected species interaction data. This review must incorporate some independent data validation against logbook data to confirm reliability and compliance with reporting requirements, particularly for protected species interactions.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority must work with industry on investigating appropriate and cost-effective methods of reporting bycatch and discards.

By 31 August 2025, the Victorian Fisheries Authority must provide advice to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on the review findings and any measures applied.

 

and replace with the words

The Victorian Fisheries Authority must review bycatch and discard reporting measures to ensure the information collected sufficiently and reliably demonstrates the accuracy of all catch (including bycatch and discards) and protected species interaction data. This review must incorporate some independent data validation against logbook data to confirm reliability and compliance with reporting requirements, particularly for protected species interactions.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority must work with industry on investigating appropriate and cost-effective methods of reporting bycatch and discards.

By 30 January 2026, the Victorian Fisheries Authority must provide advice to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on the review findings and any measures applied.

 

Dated this 30 day of July 2025

………….…….……JESSICA HOEY……………………………

Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water

Notes:

  1.         Under the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024, 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 Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water within 28 days of the date of the declaration. An application for independent review may be made to the Administrative Review 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, Sustainable Fisheries Section, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Email: sustainablefisheries@dcceew.gov.au.
  2.         Australia’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are met through Part 13A of the EPBC Act. Specimens of species listed in Appendix II of Australia’s CITES list under section 303CA of the EPBC Act may only be exported, under a CITES export permit issued under the EPBC Act, if Australia’s CITES Scientific Authority has issued a non-detriment finding for that species. Further information is available from https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/cites.