Western Australian Abalone Managed Fishery - Agency application 2014

Agency application on ecological sustainability

About the application

The current export approval for the Western Australian Abalone Managed Fishery is valid until 10 September 2014 and the fishery is now due for assessment for ongoing export accreditation. The Department of the Environment received an application, Application to the Department of the Environment on the Western Australian Abalone Managed Fishery, from the Western Australian Department of Fisheries in June 2014. The application has been prepared to address the Australian Government Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries – 2nd Edition and to provide updates on the implementation of recommendations made in the previous Australian Government assessment. The application will be used to assess the operation of the fishery for the purposes of Parts 13 and 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Consideration will be given to:

declaring the Western Australian Abalone Managed Fishery as managed consistent with the Abalone Management Plan 1992, made under the Western Australian Fish Resources Management Act 1994, as an approved wildlife trade operation under section 303FN of the EPBC Act, and

including in the list of exempt native specimens, specimens harvested in the Western Australian Abalone Managed Fishery under the provisions of the Western Australian Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and the Abalone Management Plan 1992.

In accordance with the provisions of sections 303FR and 303DC of the EPBC Act, you are invited to comment on this proposal.

Submissions may also be sent by fax to (02) 6274 2875, or email to sustainablefisheries@environment.gov.au

Any comments received will form part of the documentation provided to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment for a decision. Copies of comments may be made available to other persons with a particular interest in the application. If you wish to claim confidentiality for any part of your comments, would you please discuss the matter with the Director of the Sustainable Fisheries Section (02) 6274 1917.