Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

I, Adam Clark, acting Branch Head, Ocean and Wildlife, 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 10 August 2024 for the Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery as defined in the management regime in force under the Fisheries Act 1998 (NT) and Fisheries Regulations 1992 (NT), such that the condition specified in Schedule 1 to that declaration is varied as follows:

Delete the words:

“Condition 5

a) By 31 October 2024, the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade must deliver and publish an updated stock assessment for golden snapper.

b) If the golden snapper stock biomass is found to be below a trigger or limit reference point in the Coastal Line Fishery Harvest Strategy, the Northern Territory Department Industry Tourism and Trade must:

(i) By 13 December 2024, reduce the total allowable commercial catch (TACC) for golden snapper in proportion to the scientifically determined total mortality reduction percentage required to promote recovery within a generation for the species, taking into account incidental mortality as a part of harvest assessments.

(ii) By 30 March 2025 provide the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water with a copy of the draft recovery plan for golden snapper.

(iii) By 31 July 2025, demonstrate steps have been taken to ensure legislative arrangements are suitable to implement the formal recovery plan.

(iv) By 1 December 2025, publish a copy of the formal recovery plan.

(v) Implement any management actions by due dates identified in the formal recovery plan.”

and replace with the words:

“Condition 5

a) The Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must monitor the commercial catch of golden snapper by Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery licences, including discards, on a spatial basis. 

b) If the catch (including discards) of golden snapper under commercial licences from the overfished reef complexes adjacent to Darwin (designated as the high recreational fishing effort area) exceeds 1125 kilograms within a licensing year: 

(i) the Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must prohibit commercial fishing within the high recreational effort area for the remainder of that licensing year; and 

(ii) the Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must notify the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water of: 

  1.     the date on which catch exceeded 1125 kilograms within that licensing year 
  2.     the implementation of management arrangements to prohibit fishing in the high recreational effort area. 
  1.       The Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries must include in its annual reports to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water information on the spatial distribution of golden snapper catches by Northern Territory Coastal Line Fishery licences.”

 

Dated this 27th day of November 2025

ADAM CLARK

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 and CITES Policy 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.