Should fishing effort in waters Demersal trawl fishing has the potential to shallower than 200 metres in the cause significant impacts on the seafloor north east portion of the by reducing the structural complexity of North West Slope Trawl Fishery exceed the benthic environment. The department 2011 levels in a given season, the recognises that, as required under fishing Australian Fisheries Management Authority permit conditions, for operations of the to review the ecological risk assessment for North West Slope Trawl Fishery in waters this fishery to include analysis of the impact shallower than 200 metres there must be of demersal trawling on bottom habitats in 100 per cent observer coverage. this area of the fishery. Additionally, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority has implemented, also via permit conditions, a five ‘move on’ nautical miles provision to areas where a trigger limit of 50 kilograms of coral or sponges in one shot has been reported. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority has advised the department that any coral or sponges caught in nets must be returned to the water immediately. The department understands that the same demersal trawl gear used to target scampi in deeper waters of the North West Slope Trawl Fishery is being used to target demersal finfish species in shallower waters. While fishing effort in the northeast portion of the North West Slope Trawl Fishery was
Demersal trawl fishing has the potential to cause significant impacts on the seafloor by reducing the structural complexity of the benthic environment. The department recognises that, as required under fishing permit conditions, for operations of the North West Slope Trawl Fishery in waters shallower than 200 metres there must be 100 per cent observer coverage. Additionally, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority has implemented, also via permit conditions, a ‘move on’ five nautical miles provision to areas where a trigger limit of 50 kilograms of coral or sponges in one shot has been reported. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority has advised the department that any coral or sponges caught in nets must be returned to the water immediately. The department understands that the same demersal trawl gear used to target scampi in deeper waters of the North West Slope Trawl Fishery is being used to target demersal finfish species in shallower waters. While fishing effort in the northeast portion of the North West Slope Trawl Fishery was Should fishing effort in waters shallower than 200 metres in the north east portion of the North West Slope Trawl Fishery exceed 2011 levels in a given season, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority to review the ecological risk assessment for this fishery to include analysis of the impact of demersal trawling on bottom habitats in this area of the fishery.
western-trawl-fisheries-submission-2017.docx