Modernising Tasmania's Fisheries Legislation
Following a review of the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995, the Tasmanian Fisheries White Paper has been developed.
The White Paper sets the policy intention for the Tasmanian Government to provide a contemporary and responsive framework to enable sustainable seafood production, for the benefit of all Tasmanians. It also sets out the Government’s strategic intention to amend the fisheries legislative framework and to ensure that the policy settings support Tasmania’s fisheries management.
Purpose
The White Paper outlines the Government’s approach to modernise Tasmania’s fisheries management framework through administrative reforms and legislative amendments. The intended strategic outcomes of the policies in this White Paper are to:
- Simplify and increase flexibility for fisheries management within the Act;
- Support fisheries management that maximises the benefit of the resource to the Tasmanian community; and
- Be responsive to emerging fisheries management approaches, allowing contemporary practices to be incorporated into fisheries management processes and provide for continued improvement over time.
Next steps
The Government will begin a process of preparing a draft Bill. Importantly, this will include public consultation on the draft Bill.
How we got here
The review commenced in 2021 as part of the Seafood Growth and Recovery Plan, and has included public consultation on a discussion paper, consultation forums and meetings with members of a Key Stakeholder Group, representatives from Aboriginal communities and other individuals and groups that expressed an interest in attending. The themes and views provided in the review of the Act have been used to inform the White Paper.
LMRMA Review - Discussion Paper (PDF 4Mb)
LMRMA Review - Discussion Paper Summary (PDF 121Kb)
LMRMA Review-Submissions on Discussion Paper (PDF 461Kb)
Living Marine Resources Management Act Review Terms of Reference (PDF 648Kb)
Requests for copies of non-confidential submissions made to the review can be sent to LMRMAreview@nre.tas.gov.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LMRMA?
The Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995, or the LMRMA, is the principal Act to promote the sustainable management of living marine resources in Tasmania. Under the LMRMA there are 11 pieces of subordinate legislation that include regulations, fisheries management plans and rules that set out more detailed provisions for management of the marine resources sector.
How will the proposed changes modernise fisheries management?
The White Paper outlines the Government’s intention to modernise Tasmania’s fisheries management framework through administrative reforms and legislative amendments. The intended strategic outcomes of the policies in this White Paper are to:
- Simplify and increase flexibility for fisheries management within the Act;
- Support fisheries management that maximises the benefit of the resource to the Tasmanian community; and
- Be responsive to emerging fisheries management approaches, allowing contemporary practices to be incorporated into fisheries management processes and provide for continued improvement over time.
I’m a commercial fisher – what does the White Paper mean for me?
The White Paper proposes actions to increase flexibility and certainty, to support sustainable fisheries management. Several initiatives proposed in the White Paper may be of particular interest to commercial fishers, with expected outcomes including:
• Increasing flexibility of the Act, reducing red tape and removing unnecessary administrative processes;
• Clarifying and simplifying the processes for making and amending fishery rules and management plans; and
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More responsive decision making and increased certainty for industry
I’m a recreational fisher – what does the White Paper mean for me?
The White Paper proposes actions to support sustainable fisheries management. Several initiatives proposed in the White Paper may be of particular interest to recreational fishers, with expected outcomes including:
• Creating a long-term view of outcomes of fisheries decisions at the whole of community level, rather than that of specific interest holders;
• Providing certainty about the provision of scientific biological, ecological and socio-economic advice; and
• Providing certainty for the community about how and when the Department engages on fisheries management
I’m a community member – what does the White Paper mean for me?
The White Paper sets the policy intention for the Tasmanian Government to provide a contemporary and responsive framework to enable sustainable seafood production, for the benefit of all Tasmanians. Several initiatives proposed in the White Paper may be of particular interest to community members, with expected outcomes including:
• Creating a long-term view of outcomes of fisheries decisions at the whole of community level, rather than that of specific interest holders;
• Ensuring Tasmanians benefit from the use of Tasmanian living marine resources; and
• Providing certainty for the community about how and when the Department engages on fisheries management
Why does the White Paper recommend a focus on fisheries management?
The White Paper identifies arrangements for more efficient fisheries management, recognising that the Act exists within a broader suite of resource management legislation in Tasmania.
These changes will support how the Act is applied in practice. A clear focus on fisheries management would help to remove any confusion about the specific purpose of the Act.
What does the White Paper propose on marine protected areas?
The White Paper proposes that powers to establish marine resources protected areas be removed from the LMRMA. The current marine reserves in Tasmania are declared under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, with related fishing restrictions made in rules and regulations under the LMRMA.
As marine reserves can be established as reserved land within the conservation classes under the Nature Conservation Act 2002, removing the powers under LMRMA will reduce duplication and remove provisions from the LMRMA that have never been used.
Under the Terms of Reference, the review did not consider the Government’s policy of no new marine reserves.