Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01562:body:0:p14
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01562
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 41466–45047

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, and will comply with the requirements set out below.
  15. The minimum level of on-board observer coverage by AFMA scientific observers or other independent observers is set out in Table 3 below.
       Table 3. Minimum on board observer coverage levels for longline fisheries
Fishery                                                                                                                Minimum level of on board observer coverage

Antarctic Fishery                                                                                                      20% of all hooks set, and 40% of all hooks hauled

Coral Sea Fishery                                                                                                      10% of all hooks set and hauled

Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery                                                                                      5% of all hooks set and hauled in each fishing area

Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery                                                                              20% of all hooks set, and 40% of all hooks hauled

Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery                                                                                     20% of all hooks set, and 40% of all hooks hauled

Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery: scalefish hook, shark hook and scalefish automatic longline sectors  10% of all hooks set and hauled in each of the demersal longline sectors

Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery                                                                                      5% of all hooks set and hauled in each fishing area

All other longline fisheries (including new and developing fisheries)                                                  10% of all hooks set and hauled

  16. Video footage collected as part of independent monitoring using an electronic monitoring system will be subject to independent auditing. AFMA will ensure auditing results in accurate reporting by fishing operators of hooks set, seabird interactions and the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
  17. AFMA will continue to require that all seabirds killed on longlines deployed by Commonwealth fishing vessels in the Australian Fishing Zone are:
    a. if feasible, brought aboard the vessel;
    b. reported to AFMA;
    c. reported to the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme, if banded;
    d. if feasible, collected whole or tissue sampled for analysis, and stored on board the vessel in a manner that limits decay, while meeting any vessel food safety requirements established by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources; and
    e. if feasible, either transported, as a whole seabird specimen or tissue sample, to a storage and analysis facility nominated by the Department of the Environment and Energy, or undergo other analysis, as required by the Department with these costs met by the Department.
  The Department of the Environment and Energy will analyse collected seabird specimens or tissue samples to determine, as appropriate, species, subspecies, provenance (where possible), age, sex and breeding status and other relevant circumstances of the bycatch incident.
  18. AFMA and the Department of the Environment and Energy will analyse and review seabird-fisheries interactions data to