Compliance

AFMA's role in managing compliance

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has a responsibility to enforce the provisions of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 through the detection and investigation of illegal activities by both domestic and foreign fishing boats in the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) and Commonwealth managed fisheries.

Our Compliance section seeks to provide a cost effective service which ensures all fishing undertaken in the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ), under Commonwealth jurisdiction is conducted in a manner which maintains the integrity of Commonwealth fisheries management arrangements. We seek to achieve a level of compliance such that industry and the community at large can be confident that fishers are operating within the rules of each fishery management regime.

AFMA administers compliance programs directed towards both domestic and foreign fishing vessels, covering licensed and illegal fishing activity. The Commonwealth also has flag State responsibilities for fishing undertaken by Australian boats on the high seas under international treaties and agreements. Main functions include:

•  ensuring compliance with AFMA’s domestic fisheries management measures;

• ensuring licensed foreign boats comply with conditions for fishing within the AFZ;

• surveillance and apprehension of unlicensed foreign vessels fishing in the AFZ, including conducting deterrence and apprehension activities in tropical, temperate and cold water regions

Effective compliance is achieved through a combination of measures, including continued education and stakeholder participation in the development of management rules, effective law enforcement deterrents involving targeted operations and inspections, intelligence gathering, risk assessments and mitigation measures. Specific measures include monitoring activities and a comprehensive catch/landing reporting system for quota. In the majority of fisheries managed by AFMA, vessel monitoring systems (VMS) are used to provide real-time position reporting of boats and movements in and out of port.

Partnerships

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) undertakes its compliance function in conjunction with other relevant Commonwealth agencies, with specific compliance functions in the field being undertaken by officers from State/Territory fisheries authorities on an agency basis under which State/Territory agencies are reimbursed for services provided to AFMA:

• through these arrangements, State/Territory agencies provide the personnel and expertise while AFMA provides overall co-ordination, policy direction, technical advice and funding for these activities;
• we also work co-operatively with other Commonwealth agencies with fisheries-related responsibilities, including the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and the Australian Tax Office.

AFMA cooperates with State/Territory agencies in the implementation of fisheries documentation systems and the exchange of information. This is particularly important given that commercial operators often hold joint Commonwealth /State/ Territory fishing licence packages and that State/Territory agencies carry-out AFMA field programs.

AFMA is a client agency of Coastwatch which co-ordinates surveillance and responses to illegal foreign fishing in the AFZ by the Australian Defence Force and civilian assets. Assets available under this program include:

• aerial surveillance provided by a private contractor working to Coastwatch
• Patrol boat surveillance provided by the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Customs Service as primary surface response platforms
• private charter vessels when primary response vessels are unavailable

Page last updated 19 July, 2010