The Northern Prawn Fishery Management Advisory Committee is the main forum for discussing fisheries management issues relating to the Northern Prawn Fishery, identifying problems and developing possible solutions. The committee provides management advice to the AFMA Commission and AFMA management on efficient and cost-effective fisheries management.
The committee provides an opportunity for consultation between industry, managers, researchers, environment and conservation groups, and state government officers.
The Northern Prawn Fishery Resource Assessment Group provides scientific advice to the committee, AFMA management and the AFMA Commission. The committee uses this advice to inform their management advice.
Read more on the Northern Prawn Fishery Resource Assessment Group and Northern Prawn Fishery.
- Discussion of NPF indicators report
- Review of recent CSIRO tiger prawn stock assessment
- Review of NPF management plan
- Indigenous engagement through development of Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
- Review of AFMA strategic research plan 2023–28
- Research project updates including MICE, redleg assessment, Integrated Monitoring Project, species-split project, sawfish interactions, endeavour prawn growth modelling.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for late 2024.
Current research priorities identified for the Northern Prawn Fishery:
- stock assessments which are used to set the total allowable effort for tiger, common and Redleg Banana prawns in accordance with the Northern Prawn Fishery Harvest Strategy
- fishery independent surveys
- collection and analysis of crew member and scientific observer to confirm it meets criteria for use in monitoring populations of protected and at-risk species
- ongoing research to identify devices and techniques to enhance bycatch reduction, and respond to changes in bycatch policy
- river flow impacts on the fishery, and
- research to better understand sawfish biology, population dynamics, and measures to mitigate sawfish interactions.
Research priorities for the fishery are detailed in the Northern Prawn Fishery annual and strategic research plans.
Past decisions and outcomes can be found on the Northern Prawn Fishery Management Advisory Committee past meetings page.
Chair is appointed for the period 30 June 2026 and members are appointed until 30 June 2027.
- Mr Geoffrey Richardson, Chair
- Dr Ian Knuckey, Scientific member
- Dr Geoffrey Muldoon, Conservation member
- Mr Greg Albert, Industry member
- Mr Ian Boot, Industry member
- Mr Michael O’Brien, Industry member
- Mr Phil Robson, Industry member
- Mr Brodie Macdonald, AFMA
- Mr Bryan van Wyk, Industry member
- Dr Denham Parker, Research member
Executive Officer
Northernfisheries2@afma.gov.au
Tel: 02 6225 5555