Provides the opportunity to showcase the management arrangements in the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery (SGPF) and expand the knowledge base of the applicant in relation to contemporary management arrangements in fisheries globally.
As the Fishery Manager of the SGPF Mr Shanks has a strong personal interest in the future sustainability of the SGPF. He has implemented management arrangements in the SGPF that now permit Officers of the SGWCPFA to set through a legal instrument the area and timing that fishing is undertaken over. This is the only example in Australia where management arrangements permitting industry to self-regulate have been implemented.
The experience and knowledge associated with explaining and seeking views on the management arrangements implemented in the SGPF is invaluable to PIRSA and the SGWCPFA.
Report
In November 2017 the Minister for Fisheries provided legislative powers to commercial fishing industry representatives in the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery (SGPF) to set the management arrangements for a one year trial period. The legislative powers allow industry representatives to sign the legal instruments that set the area and period of a fishing run (prawn fishing between the quarters of the lunar cycle that include a new moon). The legislative powers have been provided under terms and conditions that require the commercial fishing industry representatives to adhere to the requirements of the harvest strategy for the fishery when setting the management arrangements. The harvest strategy sets Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and areas to be fished based on the results of Fishery Independent Surveys (FIS), which ensures fishing is undertaken at sustainable levels.
This is the only example in Australia were the commercial fishing industry has been provided legislative powers to regulate the management of a fishery. The delegation of legislative powers to manage the SGPF is an acknowledgement of the strong history of collaboration between industry and government on co-management of the fishery. By providing industry more ownership of the management they have become more invested in ensuring the sustainability of the fishery. A review of the powers provided will be undertaken in October 2019. Following the results of the review consideration will be given to how to improve the arrangements. As a result of this work other fisheries in Australia are now examining how they can move to a model providing powers to commercial industry to set management arrangements.
