News and media

Media Release from Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is reminding Commonwealth operators that VMS units are to remain switched on at all times, including during the Christmas and New Year period.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is seeking applications for members on three Management Advisory Committees (MACs) and four Resource Assessment Groups (RAGs), specifically: 

• South East Management Advisory Committee (SEMAC); 

• Great Australian Bight Management Advisory Committee (GABMAC); 

• Southern Bluefin Tuna Management Advisory Committee (SBTMAC); 

• South East Resource Assessment Group (SERAG); 

• Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Resource Assessment Group (SESSFRAG); 

• Great Australian Bight Resource Assessment Group (GABRAG); and 

• Shark Resource Assessment Group (SharkRAG). 

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has announced that the 2021-22 Management and Research Levy arrangements for Commonwealth fisheries have been confirmed and the levy rates for the year have been set.

Like so many industries, this year has been tough on the Commonwealth fishing sector. As the year winds down and we look forward to summer celebrations, now is an important and timely reminder to be buying sustainable wild-caught Aussie seafood.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is pleased to report that Commonwealth fishers achieved a 98.95 per cent compliance with their vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements between August and November this year.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is reminding suitable applicants to apply for the Chair positions currently available on AFMA’s Management Advisory Committees and Resource Assessment Groups.

Fishing, like all food production has some level of impact on the environment and one of the most direct and visible impacts from the harvest of commercial fish species is the unintentional catch of species that are not retained—known as ‘bycatch’.