Fishing and Marine Conservation

1. Fishing

Fishing activities in NSW are primarily regulated by the Fisheries Management Act 1994. The Department of Primary Industries manages the majority of the Act, although the Department of Environment and Climate Change has some responsibilities relating to endangered species and habitats.

Under the Act, the Minister for Primary Industries is required to establish and make publicly accessible the following registers:

Share Management Fisheries Register and Business Determinations

Share management fisheries are fisheries where shares are granted to those conducting commercial fishing within particular areas. These shares provide proportional access to fishing resources. Only shareholders may undertake commercial fishing activities in a share management fishery.

The Minister for Primary Industries is required to keep a Share Management Fisheries Register. This register is a computer database that is kept at the Cronulla office of NSW Fisheries. It is not available online. To access this register an application must be made in writing to:

The Manager of Fisheries Business Services
Cronulla Fisheries Office,
202 Nicholson Parade
CRONULLA NSW 2230

It is important to be specific on exactly what information you are looking for prior to sending in your application. The database is large and complex, so specific search criteria are needed. For example, you may want information on the shareholding of a particular individual, or a list of the mud crab fishermen in a certain region. If you are unsure about what information you are after you can call the office on (02) 9527 8411 or fax on (02) 9527 8409 . Once you have sent your application in the Office will conduct a search and provide you with the relevant share extracts from the register. A register extract will cost $27 but may be more depending on the complexity of the search.

Register of Aquaculture Permits

Aquaculture under the Act has two definitions. First, it refers to the cultivation of fish for the purpose of harvesting. Secondly, it refers to the confining of fish or marine vegetation for commercial purposes. Aquaculture Permits are required in both of these circumstances.

The Fisheries Management Act 1994 obliges the Minister to establish a register of aquaculture permits that contains the following information:

(a) the name and business address of the permit holder;

(b) the date on which the permit was issued;

(c) the class or classes (if any) of the permit;

(d) the address or description of the area to which the permit applies;

(e) the species of fish or marine vegetation authorised to be cultivated by the permit within any such area;

(f) the conditions of the permit imposed by the Minister;

(g) particulars of any suspension or cancellation of the permit; and

(h) any other matters prescribed by the regulations or determined by the Minister.

This register is not available online. It is contained at the Head Office of the Aquaculture Division of the NSW Department of Primary Industries where it can be inspected in person. If this is not practical you call the office and arrange for the information to be sent to the closest Fisheries office to your location where you can inspect it in person.

No copies of the register may be made but you are allowed to take notes. If you are inspecting it in person an appointment must be made prior to arrival. The register is located at Taylor 's Beach Rd , Taylor 's Beach in Port Stephens . The phone number is (02) 4982 1232 and appointments can only be made between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

2. Threatened Species and marine biodiversity

The Minister for Primary Industries is required to establish and make publicly available the following registers relating to marine biodiversity:

Marine critical habitat

Critical habitat is defined in the Fisheries Management Act 1994 as:

The whole or any part of the habitat of an endangered species, population or ecological community or critically endangered species or ecological community that is critical to the survival of the species, population or ecological community is eligible to be declared under this Division to be the critical habitat of the species, population or ecological community.

The current list of critical habitat declared under this Act is found here:

http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/threatened_species/general/register_of_critical_habitat

Presently there is only one declared critical habitat under the Fisheries Management Act 1994.

Threatened species

The Fisheries Management Act 1994 provides for the listing of threatened species, populations, ecological communities and key threatening processes. The Minister lists these species on the advice of the Fisheries Scientific Committee. The Act also provides for the preparation of recovery plans and threat abatement plans to conserve these species. The current list of marine threatened species, populations, communities and key threatening processes is found here:

http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/threatened_species/general/what_is_currently_listed

Licences

The register of licences to harm threatened species under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 is located at the Fisheries Ecosystems office of the Department of Primary Industries. If you want to inspect the register or obtain copies you can contact the office on (02) 4892 1232 or visit in person. The office is located in Nelson Bay .

3. Protected areas

Marine Parks

Marine Parks are declared under the Marine Parks Act 1997 by the Minister for Primary Industries and the Minister for Climate Change and Environment. Marine Parks aim to conserve biological diversity by protecting representative samples of the habitats in each of the State's bioregions. Declared marine parks are administered by the Marine Parks Authority NSW. A current list of Marine Parks is found here:

http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/

Aquatic Reserves

Aquatic Reserves are permanent reserves established under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 to protect the biodiversity of NSW's marine life and habitats. They are also established to protect important habitat and nursery areas for protected species, or for research and education. The current list of aquatic reserves is found here:

http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/marine_protected_areas/aquatic-reserves