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Overview
The Fisheries Council’s main purpose is to prepare and review management plans, promote the co-management of fisheries, promote research, education and training in relation to fisheries and their management, and advise the Minister on all fisheries related matters as set out under Section 16 of the Act.
Preparation and Review of Management Plans
All of South Australia’s major fisheries have a Management Plan in place (established under the Fisheries Act 1982) that sets out the broad structure and nature of the fishery, the relevant management arrangements and the objectives and performance indicators associated with management. In most instances these plans have been reviewed at least once since their introduction in the late 1990s.
The Spencer Gulf Prawn, the Gulf St Vincent Prawn, the Southern Zone Rock Lobster and the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery Management Plans have all been reviewed recently with new three-year plans becoming effective from September 2007.
The plans were all produced in consultation with industry and developed through the previous Fisheries Management Committees.
The Fisheries Council now has responsibility for preparing and conducting reviews of management plans, upon the request of the Minister (Section 16 (a)(b)).
Part 5 of the Act details provisions relating to management plans for commercial fishing, recreational fishing and aquatic reserves. (This Part does not apply to an Aboriginal traditional fishing management plan (Section 60)).
The Fisheries Council will commence preparation of management plans under the new Act upon the request of the Minister.
Promotion of Co-management of Fisheries and Research, Education and Training
The Council is charged with promoting co-management of fisheries; promoting research, education and training in relation to fisheries. (Section 16 (c)(d)).
Advice to Minister
Fisheries Management
The Council provides advice to the Minister on the management of aboriginal traditional fishing, commercial fishing and recreational fishing; and advises the Minister on State-wide policies in relation to fisheries management and research (Section 16(e) and (h)).
Fees
The Council advises the Minister about fees to be paid in connection with fishery authorities (Section 16 (f)).
Fisheries Research and Development Fund
The Council advises the Minister on the application of money in the Fisheries Research and Development Fund. This is detailed under Division 4 of the Act, Section 16(g).
Commonwealth - State Arrangements
The Council advises the Minister on matters relating to intergovernmental agreements and arrangements related to fisheries and fishing.
There are six Offshore Constitutional Settlement (OCS) agreements currently in place between South Australia and the Commonwealth, which provide jurisdiction to South Australia for the management of certain fisheries from the low water mark out to 200 nautical miles.
These agreements cover rock lobster, abalone, western king prawns and specific marine scalefish species (Section 16(i)).
Allocation
The Council advises the Minister on issues related to the allocation of access to aquatic resources in particular fisheries as set out in Section 16 (j).
Section 43(h), (i) and (j) establishes the requirement for management plans to include allocations between fishing sectors and mechanisms for adjusting shares between those sectors.
A formal Allocation Policy will be determined by the Minister to guide the implementation of the allocation provisions by the Fisheries Council and its committees.
This Policy will be developed during 2008/09.
Advisory Committees
The Minister, or the Council with the Minister’s approval, may establish advisory committees under the Act. A formal Ministerial Direction will be provided setting out the relevant policies and committees to be established (Section 20). It is expected that a member of the Council will attend each meeting of the advisory committees.
The Council or the Minister established no Advisory Committees during 2007/08.
Codes of Practice
The Council is required to prepare or promote codes of practice on best practice concerning matters of relevance to holders of fishery authorities (Section 16 (k)).
Council Strategic Plan
The Council is required, on or before 31 March in each year, to prepare and submit to the Minister a plan of the Council’s proposed operations for the next financial year (Section 18).
Council Budget
The Government has allocated an annual budget to the Council from consolidated revenue. The Council plans the budget each year. The budget is managed within Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) Fisheries.
