Fishery Advisory Committees (FACs) provide advice to the Minister on important issues affecting Tasmania's wild fisheries. The five FACs are:
Legislation requires that the Minister consults with the relevant advisory committee prior to determining key fishery arrangements such as size limits, seasonal closures, gear restrictions and total allowable catch. In practice, the role and work of the FACs are much broader than this.
Some of the key areas in which they play an active role are:
- advice on research needs and priorities;
- advice on IMAS fishery assessments and stock monitoring;
- advice during formal reviews of management plans;
- development of management responses to issues; and
- advice on the setting of the total allowable catch.
There is an expectation that FAC members will engage with other industry and community members to communicate issues regarding the relevant fishery.
FAC procedures
The operation of the FACs and the conduct of FAC members during meetings is guided by an
Establishment and Procedures document. This document covers a range of issues including conflict of interest, confidentiality, interactions with the media and standard procedural matters.