Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01562:body:0:p13
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01562
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 38601–41732

mitigation and the need to use effective mitigation measures to foreign fishers through international fisheries forums. This advocacy will focus on ensuring that seabird bycatch mitigation measures across the range of affected seabird species are complementary with those outlined in this threat abatement plan. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources will report annually to the stakeholder group on progress made on this action.
  10. The Department of the Environment and Energy will communicate the results of implementing this threat abatement plan. It will promote seabird bycatch mitigation and the need to use effective mitigation measures in relevant international conservation forums, including ACAP and CMS. This advocacy will focus on ensuring that seabird bycatch mitigation measures across the range of affected seabird species are complementary with those outlined in this threat abatement plan. The Department of the Environment and Energy will report annually to the stakeholder group on progress made on this action.

Research and development, and innovation
  11. AFMA, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Department of the Environment and Energy will promote and support research and development of new and existing mitigation measures, including by facilitating access to and awareness among stakeholders of fisheries research funding programs, particularly those conducting research and development on measures to mitigate seabird bycatch mortalities.
  12. AFMA will support trials of seabird bycatch mitigation measures and devices under operational conditions by granting individual scientific permits to operators. The Department of the Environment and Energy will provide advice to help in ensuring the experimental design of trials is scientifically robust. Measures will be tested for a sufficient amount of fishing effort and in a manner that takes proper account of differences across seasons and between boats, and gives confidence in the results. Once a new seabird bycatch mitigation measure or device has been demonstrated to consistently and effectively meet the threat abatement plan criteria, it may be included in the management arrangements for fisheries.
  13. AFMA will encourage innovation in the research, development, adoption and review of effective seabird bycatch mitigation measures and devices including international research.

Other actions

Data collection and analysis
  14. AFMA will collect data on the bycatch of seabirds, and effectiveness of mitigation measures. In addition to collecting these data from fishing operator logbook reports AFMA will independently monitor fishing activities through the use of AFMA scientific observers or other independent observers approved by AFMA and/or electronic monitoring systems approved by AFMA. Independent monitoring occurs for a range of fishery management purposes including monitoring seabird bycatch. For the purposes of this threat abatement plan the level of independent monitoring shall be commensurate with the nature and level of seabird bycatch in each fishing area, season and fishery,