Key elements of the Victorian Wild Harvest Abalone Fishery Management Plan Definitions of funding sources: DEDJTR: Government funded, no industry contribution; Industry: Service cost recovered from industry, or in some limited instances, industry Recreational: - RFL Trust Account. These funding sources are subject to consideration and confirmation through the cost recovery process. Proposals for funding from the RFL Trust account would need to be submitted to the RFL Grants Program. Objective Strategy Action Performance Indicator Target Implementation Schedule Lead Agency Key Partners(s) Funding Source* Policy and statutory context Review of the Plan DEDJTR, in collaboration with the Abalone Industry Committee, will arrange annual Stock Assessment and Quota Setting Workshops to review progress against the actions in this plan. An annual progress report is discussed at a workshop each year during the life of the plan. All actions are completed during the life of the plan. Every year after plan is declared DEDJTR AIC DEDJTR/industry Rebuild or maintain abalone stocks Developing adaptive harvest strategies for each zone Develop zonal harvest strategies which must include clear objectives. Appropriate Total Allowable Commercial Catch levels are established each year Abalone stocks are managed sustainably Within first year of the plan Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR DEDJTR Fisherweb and AQMS to display new reference points. Fisherweb displays up to date reference point for spatial management units Fisherweb is a useful tool for abalone quota unit holders to manage their take. Within first year of the plan DEDJTR Industry Investigate the utility and feasibility of collecting information abalone populations in marine protected areas to inform stock assessment. Unharvested abalone stocks provide a benchmark that informs management of the commercial fishery. Abalone stocks are sustainably managed using all relevant information. Ongoing DEDJTR Parks Victoria DEDJTR/industry
Setting targets for rebuilding Refine target levels for stock re-building for each spatial management unit or group of reef codes in the fishery. Implementation of stock rebuilding strategies. Achieve specified stock targets. Within first year of the plan DEDJTR Recognised industry zonal entities. DEDJTR/industry Formalise Total Allowable Commercial Catch setting process Formalise the process for setting Allowable Commercial Catches. An appropriate process for setting Total Allowable Commercial Catch is in place. A transparent and defensible Total Allowable Commercial Catch-setting process Within first two years of the plan DEDJTR Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/industry Conduct structured fishing No action specified Harvesting greenlip abalone for commercial use Design and, where available funding permits, conduct assessments of greenlip abalone stocks. Industry funded assessments of greenlip abalone stocks are supported by DEDJTR. Sustainably managed greenlip abalone fishery During the life of the plan, subject to available funds Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR Industry Responding to ecological risks DEDJTR will assess ecological information relating to potential impacts on the abalone fishery and discuss possible adaptation strategies with industry. Perform ecological assessments Identification of possible adaptation strategies During the life of the plan DEDJTR Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/Industry Secure access to the resource Maintaining access for commercial fishing No action specified
Ensuring access for recreational fishing DEDJTR will implement a recreational abalone fishing season in central Victorian waters during which time recreational fishing will be allowed on defined days. A recreational abalone season is established in central Victorian waters Equitable access for recreational fishers to the abalone resource During the first year of the plan DEDJTR DEDJTR/ recreational DEDJTR will, subject to available funding, quantify recreational abalone fishing participation and harvest. Quantification of recreational catch and effort Recreational fishing catch and effort data to inform management During the life of the plan DEDJTR VRFish DEDJTR/ recreational Enable improvements in economic productivity Harvesting abalone at a finer spatial scale Through the harvest strategies, formalise the management of commercial abalone harvesting at a spatial scale, subject to developing appropriate governance and funding arrangements consistent with the respective responsibilities of industry and DEDJTR. Risk based, cost effective and enforceable spatial management arrangements are considered by DEDJTR and industry. A more productive and economically viable abalone fishery Within first two years of the plan DEDJTR Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/industry
Trialling differential legal minimum size limits in the commercial fishery At the request of the relevant industry entity, DEDJTR will develop and implement arrangements to allow commercial abalone harvesting from areas with different minimum legal sizes on a single fishing trip subject to additional agreed conditions which may include prior reporting and appropriate electronic data logging technology, funded by industry or regulatory amendment. Harvesting abalone of different legal minimum lengths on a single fishing trip is undertaken in accordance with agreed conditions and funding arrangements. A more productive and economically viable abalone fishery Within first two years of the plan DEDJTR Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/industry Delivering cost effective science, management and compliance programs Clearly define the type and level of scientific, management and compliance services to be delivered by DEDJTR to operate the fishery on the existing zonal basis under the combined cost recovery and royalty levy set at 7.21 per cent of the annual GVP for the abalone fishery. Fishery management services are effectively and appropriately funded in accordance with agreed principles of cost recovery An economically efficient abalone industry 1 2013 and each year thereafter DEDJTR Recognised industry entities DEDJTR/industry Provide an opportunity for abalone entitlement holders to collectively request and fund any additional science, management and compliance services for each zone in the fishery. Contribution of additional science, management and compliance services An efficient, well informed and compliant abalone fishery Progressive and ongoing process DEDJTR DEDJTR Industry
Investigate opportunities to improve the administrative efficiency of switching divers listed on abalone fishery access licences. Establish efficient means of interchanging operators on access licences Efficiency in access licence operations Within first year of the plan DEDJTR Recognised industry entities Industry Implement provisions to verify the GVP for the abalone fishery. A means to accurately calculate the abalone fishery GVP is in place The abalone fishery GVP is and understood Within the first two years of the plan DEDJTR AIC, Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/industry Applying modern technologies for catch logging and vessel tracking Examine options for commercial divers to use an approved type of data logger to record their catches and fishing locations to inform the harvesting of abalone at a finer spatial scale. An approved data logging system that provides for the recording of catches and fishing locations is in place An economically efficient and sustainable abalone fishery Progressive and ongoing process Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR DEDJTR/Industry Industry, through the Abalone Industry Committee and in collaboration with DEDJTR, to undertake a review of emerging reporting technologies, associated costs and benefits to the fishery. Identification and implementation of new reporting technologies A transparent, well informed and compliant abalone fishery Within the first two years of the plan AIC Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/Industry Accounting for of quota and diseased catch Enable commercial abalone holders (and their divers) to land up to 10 kilograms of abalone above their annual individual quota allocations on their last day of fishing in a fishing period. Greater compliance with over-quota regulations. A consistent approach to managing over-catches of quota. Within the first six months of the plan DEDJTR Industry DEDJTR/Industry
Develop a protocol to account for diseased abalone without disadvantaging divers’ quota allocations. A protocol that outlines how diseased abalone is accounted for in quota is implemented. All abalone are appropriately handled and accounted for in quota. Within six months of the plan DEDJTR Recognised industry entities DEDJTR/industry Improving economic performance Develop a process to report the economic performance of the fishery, subject to satisfactory industry participation. A process of reporting on the economic performance of the abalone industry is implemented. An economically efficient abalone fishery Within first two years of the plan DEDJTR Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/industry Empower effective industry representation, organisation and funding Establishing robust governance arrangements Specify the governance standards that must be satisfied for a single industry entity including the AIC to be recognised to undertake defined functions and to receive direct grant funds raised via regulated levies. Effective and efficient involvement of zonal entities in participatory management of the abalone fishery Improved governance arrangements between DEDJTR and industry entities Within the first six months of the plan (for the central zone Fishery) DEDJTR SIV, industry DEDJTR/industry Ensure fisheries compliance Applying a strategic approach to abalone compliance Continue to disseminate information about the risks and rules applicable to the abalone fishery and their purpose, as part of DEDJTR’s statewide education and enforcement program. Information regarding the commercial and recreational abalone fisheries are disseminated in a timely manner. An informed commercial and recreational abalone fishery. Ongoing DEDJTR SIV, VRFish, Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/industry/ recreational
Industry, through the Abalone Industry Committee and in collaboration with DEDJTR to develop an educational package for new entrants in the fishery. Information regarding the commercial abalone fishery disseminated to new entrants in a timely manner. An informed commercial abalone sector. Within the first two years of the plan AIC DEDJTR DEDJTR/industry Continue to use information derived from compliance risk assessments, 13 FISH reports and patrol activities to prioritise, plan and target compliance activities to achieve a high level of compliance with fishing regulations. Compliance levels in the commercial and recreational abalone fisheries are maintained at acceptable levels. An effective and efficient compliance environment in the abalone fishery. Ongoing DEDJTR SIV, VRFish, Recognised industry zonal entities DEDJTR/industry/ recreational Continue to promote community reporting of suspected illegal fishing activities through 13 FISH. Utilisation of 13 FISH by the public is maintained at agreed levels. An effective and efficient compliance environment in the abalone fishery. Ongoing DEDJTR SIV, VRFish, Recognised industry entities DEDJTR/industry/ recreational Establish a collaborative compliance risk assessment and management process to incorporate stakeholder input into identification of areas and priority targets, subject to appropriate safeguards to protect the security of restricted compliance information. Improved compliance process for identification of high-risk areas and priority targets. An effective and efficient compliance environment in the abalone fishery. Within first two years of the plan DEDJTR SIV, VRFish, AIC DEDJTR/industry/ recreational
Develop a method to report compliance patterns and trends to stakeholders on a regular basis, subject to maintaining the integrity of DEDJTR’s compliance strategy and operational procedures. Compliance patterns and trends are reported to stakeholders on a regular basis. An effective and efficient compliance environment in the abalone fishery. Within first year of the plan DEDJTR SIV, VRFish, AIC DEDJTR/industry/ recreational Target monitoring and research Ensuring adequate knowledge about the biomass Undertake scientific monitoring and research to inform Total Allowable Commercial Catches setting and management actions that aim to rebuild or maintain stocks in each zone. Sustainable catch limits and rebuilding strategies for the abalone fishery are informed by evidence and expert thinking. An economically efficient and sustainable abalone fishery Ongoing DEDJTR Recognised industry entities, VRFish DEDJTR/industry/ recreational Identify and prioritise research Continue to engage the commercial and recreational fishing sectors in the collaborative process of identifying, developing, funding and reporting of research and development projects in the sectors are with access to results for industry. Research and development projects are effective and appropriately funded. The abalone fishery is managed using informed and effective research. Ongoing DEDJTR Recognised industry zonal entities, SIV, VRFish DEDJTR/industry/ recreational Enable industry involvement in the collaborative selection of research priorities and investment and ensure results are made available to industry and DEDJTR. Research and development projects are effective and appropriately funded. The abalone fishery is managed using informed and effective research. Ongoing DEDJTR Recognised industry zonal entities, SIV, VRFish DEDJTR/industry/ recreational