Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024N00546:schedule:1:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024N00546
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 1 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 2715–5771

Schedule 1
Declaration of the harvest operations of the Victorian Eel Fishery as an approved Wildlife Trade Operation, June 2024

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS (section 303FT)

Relating to the harvesting of fish specimens that are, or are derived from, fish or invertebrates, other than specimens of species listed under Part 13 and Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), taken in the Victorian Eel Fishery:

Condition 1:

Operation of the Victorian Eel Fishery must be carried out in accordance with the Fisheries Act 1995 (Vic), the Fisheries Regulations 2019 (Vic), and the Victorian Eel Fishery Management Plan 2017.

Condition 2:

The Victorian Fisheries Authority must inform the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water of any intended material changes to the Victorian Eel Fishery management arrangements that may affect the assessment against which Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 decisions are made.

Condition 3:

The Victorian Fisheries Authority must inform the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water of any intended changes to fisheries legislation that may affect the legislative instruments relevant to this approval.

Condition 4:

The Victorian Fisheries Authority must produce and provide reports on the Victorian Eel Fishery, including progress against all Part 13A conditions, to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by 20 June annually, with the first annual report due by 20 June 2025.

These reports must be completed as per Appendix B of the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries – 2nd Edition.

Condition 5:

By 12 December 2025, the Victorian Fisheries Authority must conduct stock assessments for the two target species. Such assessments may involve attempts to standardise Catch Per Unit Effort, applying other stock assessment methods appropriate to the biological stocks, and/or undertaking research into the health of eel populations in areas closed to fishing.

Condition 6:

By 20 June 2026, the Victorian Fisheries Authority must complete and make publicly available a harvest strategy for the fishery, and provide it to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. This harvest strategy must clearly outline biologically relevant reference points, performance measures and triggers for management action.

Condition 7:

By 12 December 2025, the Victorian Fisheries Authority must complete and make publicly available a detailed bycatch risk assessment for the fishery.

Condition 8:

  a)      By 13 December 2024, the Victorian Fisheries Authority must develop and implement an interim bycatch reduction plan. Implementation of this plan must include the adoption and enforcement of appropriate bycatch reduction measures on all licenced eel fishers, until such time as the detailed bycatch risk assessment is completed. A copy of the plan and the interim bycatch reduction implementation measures must be