Securing Australia's fishing future

We are the Australian Government agency responsible for the efficient management and sustainable use of Commonwealth fish resources on behalf of the Australian community.

We manage and monitor commercial Commonwealth fishing to ensure Australian fish stocks and our fishing industry are viable now and in the future. By doing so, we are aiming to make healthy and fresh local seafood available and affordable to all Australians for current and future generations.

In partnership with the fishing industry, scientists and other stakeholders, we regulate commercial Commonwealth fishing using management tools such as harvest strategies and ecological risk assessments. There is 8 million km2 of water that extends from three nautical miles out to the limit of the Australian Fishing Zone, which is the world’s third largest national maritime domain. We manage 22 fisheries and over 90 species including tuna, squid, flathead, gummy shark, orange roughy, scallops and prawns.

We also have responsibility to detect, deter and eliminate illegal foreign fishing activity in Australian waters, working in partnership with other Australian Government agencies and international counterparts. This work extends into the Pacific and South East Asia, through the delivery of capacity building programs with fisheries enforcement agencies, and education and awareness workshops with fishers and community members.

Our people are highly trained professionals in a range of roles including fisheries officers and at-sea observers, fisheries management, and administration staff. They are passionate about working with our fishers to make decisions that maintain sustainable fisheries and oceans.