Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01562:body:0:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01562
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 18460–21556

Minister in 2006. A review of that plan was undertaken in 2011 with a variation released in 2014. This Threat Abatement Plan for the incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations (2018) replaces the plan made in 2006 (as varied).
This threat abatement plan meets the requirements of the EPBC Act and coordinates national action to alleviate the impact of longline fishing activities on seabirds in Australian waters. Its content reflects changes and improvements which have occurred during the life of the previous plan and highlights the expectation of best and improving practice in all longline fisheries in achieving the ultimate goal and interim objective of this plan. It applies to all longline fisheries under Commonwealth jurisdiction.
Historically, seven longline fisheries operating in the Australian Fishing Zone have been identified as having significant and potential seabird bycatch problems: Antarctic Fishery, Coral Sea Fishery, Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery, Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery, Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery, Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (scalefish hook, shark hook and automatic longline sectors), and Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (AAD 2005). These fisheries are managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). Over the life of the previous threat abatement plans, substantial progress has been achieved towards reducing the key threatening process in each fishery. The incidental bycatch rates in several fisheries are now generally well below 0.01 or 0.05 birds per 1000 hooks in each fishing season and fishing area, the maximum permissible levels set as a performance indicator under the previous plan. The prescriptions in this plan recognise this success and seek to further reduce the incidental capture of seabirds.
Information on the level and nature of interactions between seabirds and fishing gear has increased significantly since 1995, and there is now extensive information available upon which to base decision-making. Considerable research and development activities have been undertaken into seabird bycatch mitigation measures including at-sea trials. This work could not have been achieved without the continued engagement and support of industry.
The prescriptions in this threat abatement plan also draw on best and improving practices in seabird bycatch mitigation for longline fishing developed under the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) (ACAP 2016a; 2016b). This international agreement, to which Australia is a Party, aims to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for albatrosses and petrels. ACAP has been developed under the auspices of another international agreement, the Convention on the 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