Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01562:body:0:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01562
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 21260–24369

Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
There is now increased confidence concerning the effectiveness of several mitigation measures, particularly line weighting strategies, use of bird-scaring lines, retention of offal during line setting and hauling, night setting (in certain instances), spatial and temporal closures, and use of hook-shielding devices (ACAP 2016a; 2016b). These mitigation measures form the basis of the prescriptions set out in this threat abatement plan.
This threat abatement plan is closely linked to other plans and policies concerning seabird species, particularly the Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris on vertebrate marine life (Department of the Environment and Energy 2017); Australia's National Plan of Action for minimising the incidental catch of seabirds in Australian capture fisheries (DAWR 2017b) that has been prepared to meet Australia's commitment to the International Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (FAO 1999) and associated technical guidelines (FAO 2009); and the Commonwealth Fisheries Bycatch Policy (DAWR 2017a) that is near finalisation. This threat abatement plan relies on recovery plans to collect specific data on population trends of those threatened seabird species found breeding in Australia. Of particular relevance is the National recovery plan for threatened albatrosses and giant petrels (DSWEPC 2011), which updates the first recovery plan for albatrosses and giant petrels that was released in 2001. The recovery plan sets out a coordinated conservation strategy for albatrosses and giant petrels listed as threatened under the EPBC Act. It considers threats to albatrosses and giant petrels both at terrestrial breeding sites and at sea in their foraging habitat.
This threat abatement plan represents an important component of Australia's domestic contribution to the global conservation of seabirds by managing the threat of incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during longline fishing operations. However, conservation of migratory seabird species relies on more than Australian action. Mitigation strategies, such as those outlined in this plan, should also be applied during oceanic longline fishing operations in international waters and waters under the jurisdiction of other nations, particularly those in the southern hemisphere. Australia is actively pursuing such action through, among other things, those regional fisheries management organisations to which it is a Party, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, ACAP and CMS.
The following sets out the threat abatement plan for the listed key threatening process of incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations.

Objective
Threat abatement plans must state the objective to be achieved (EPBC Act s 271(2)(a)). The ultimate aim of this threat abatement plan is to achieve a zero bycatch of seabirds, especially threatened albatross and petrel species, in all longline fisheries. However, using currently available