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.
Following a review, consultation arrangements for fisheries management will be updated in 2025. Fishery Advisory Committees (FACs) will not be continued, and new arrangements will be implemented. The new arrangements have three key components:
- Non-statutory ‘fishery consultative groups’, including representatives of the relevant certified fishery bodies, to inform the Department’s advice.
- Use of direct written requests to the relevant certified bodies for each fishery, prior to decision making on total allowable catch (TAC).
- Establishment of a three-person independent marine advisory group, that can provide advice on matters such as TAC/quota, harvest strategies, resource sharing or other matters referred to it, as required.
The new arrangements will improve fisheries management and provide a more comprehensive and transparent mechanism of consultation. The arrangements bring recreational and commercial stock management together and preserve independent scientific advice.
The below diagram shows these new arrangements in the context of the wider consultation and advisory arrangements. These new arrangements do not affect ongoing engagement processes, which includes statutory consultation and public engagement.
Public Engagement and Consultation Policy
This policy describes how we conduct public engagement and key stakeholder consultation, as well as how our public consultation process works.
Next steps
Transition to the new arrangements will commence immediately, with core fishing groups to continue while the fishery consultative group model is further developed and implemented.
Review of the FACs
The role, value and fitness-for-purpose of the FACs had not been substantially reviewed since FACs were first introduced in the mid-1990s.
As part of the review of the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995, a review was undertaken into the effectiveness of FACs, including their structure and role. This included an independent review of the FACs and analysis of other Australian jurisdiction’s arrangements. The new approach was informed by findings from this review and will modernise Tasmanian fisheries consultation.
A summary of the review is available here:
Summary - Review of Fishery Advisory Committees (PDF 109Kb)
Summary - Review of Fishery Advisory Committees (DOCX 108Kb)
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I still be able to have my say on fisheries management decisions?
Yes. These consultation arrangements are only one way that the government engages on fisheries management. These new arrangements do not affect ongoing engagement processes, which includes statutory and non-statutory consultation and community engagement.
How will the interim core groups be transitioned into the new approach?
The government is working on the implementation of the new arrangements. The interim arrangements, comprising interim fishery core groups, will continue while the new arrangements are finalised.
When will the new arrangements be implemented?
Work to implement the new approach will commence immediately, with full implementation expected to be achieved during 2025.