Timor Reef Fishery
Operational Decision Rules
Northern Territory Government
Page 1 of 7
DECISION RULES OUTLINING FISHERY OBJECTIVES, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, TRIGGERS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES
Species or group
All quota / nonquota species
Objectives (O)
Minimise high grading,
transhipping or discarding
through;
Performance Indicator (PI)
1. Analysis of individual
catch return data shows
no anomalies
1. monitoring of quota
transfer
2. No reported incidences of
high grading or discarding
occurring
2. Observer coverage of a
min. 2 trips per year.
One observer
monitoring trip is carried
out for every 250t
caught.
3. monitoring of catch
lengths and
compositions
4. monitoring of minimum
holdings
5. in port inspection of
vessels on arrival as
required
6. Monitoring market
conditions
7. monitoring of multiagency offshore reports
relating to transhipping
of catch at sea
Northern Territory Government
3. Minimum holdings verified
4. Observer data validates
catch composition and
catch returns. Length
frequency data shows no
anomalies No indications
of localised depletion of a
species
5. Industry, Scientists,
SEWPAC or Managers
are satisfied with
operations
6. No reported incidences of
transhipping. Fisheries
Officers satisfied with
compliance in offshore
operations
7. Validation of catch
required when finfish longline is on a vessel.
Trigger point (TP)
1. Breach of performance
indicators by operator/s
(relates to PI1, 2). MA1, MA3
activation.
2. Scientists have a concern for
sustainability of a species (PI2,
4, 5). MA3 activation.
3. Breach of minimum holdings
(PI3). MA2 activation.
4. Breach of compliance in
offshore operations (PI1, 6).
MA1, MA3 activation.
5. Total combined annual catch
is higher than 1000t (PI4, 5).
MA4 activation.
6. Finfish long-line is on a vessel
(PI2, 7). MA1 activation.
Management action (MA)
MA1. Any operator in breach must arrange for at
least 1 additional observer trip to evaluate
their fishing operations within 1 month. If TP 6
is activated, any operator who uses finfish
longline must either; install approved
monitoring equipment; or, notify the Director
within 14 days of first voyage to arrange for
additional monitoring with the Director within
two months at own cost approx. 700 penalty
units / day. It is proposed to have one
monitored trip for each three months of
operations thereafter. Costs are proposed to
be recovered via the Tier 2 mechanism.
MA2. No entry to the fishery until formal verification
of minimum holdings
MA3. TRFMAC to review fishery operating
practices
MA4. Observers to carry out one additional trip
per year for every 500t over 1000t to
validate catch composition and catch
returns at industry expense. Additional
costs are proposed to be recovered
annually via Tier 3 mechanism.
Note: The Joint Authority may require an operator
who has been convicted of an offence, or
has been issued and has paid a FINS
notice, to either, take an observer on board
or install an electronic monitoring system
within 3 months.
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DECISION RULES OUTLINING FISHERY OBJECTIVES, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, TRIGGERS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES
Species or group
Combined
Goldband
species
Objectives (O)
8. Maintenance of TACC
Performance Indicator (PI)
8. Confirmation of TACC
9. TRFMAC, Scientists,
SEWPAC and Managers
satisfied with
sustainability and TACC
value
9. Analysis of individual
catch return data shows no
anomalies
10. No reported incidences of
high grading or discarding
occurring
11. Minimum holdings
verified
12. Observer data validates
catch composition and catch
returns. Length frequency data
shows no anomalies No
indications of localised
depletion
13. Industry, Scientists,
SEWPAC or Managers are
satisfied with operations
Northern Territory Government
Trigger point (TP)
7. Breach of performance
indicators by operator/s (PI9,
10, 11). MA1, MA5, MA6, MA8
activation.
Management action (MA)
MA5. Observers gather data (~500 otoliths,
lengths etc) to assist in future research. This
information may either be collected ‘at sea’ or from
landed catch.
8. A 30% decline in catch from the
previous year (PI12, 13). MA5,
MA7 activation.
MA6. Analysis of gathered data is undertaken.
Approx. $20 per otoliths, + ~$33,000 for Stock
Assessment report. Additional costs are proposed
to be recovered from industry annually via Tier 3
mechanism.
9. When 55% of the TACC is
taken in a year (PI8). MA5
activation.
10. When 80% of the TACC is
taken in a year (PI8, 12, 13).
MA6 activation.
11. When 90% of the TACC is
taken in a year (PI8, 12, 13).
MA7 activation.
MA7. A review of the appropriateness of the
current TACC is undertaken using all data.
MA8. TRFMAC to review fishery operating
practices.
MA9. All activity in the fishery is halted until the
next quota allocation period.
12. When TACC is taken in a year.
MA9 activation.
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DECISION RULES OUTLINING FISHERY OBJECTIVES, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, TRIGGERS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES
Species or group
Combined Red
snapper species
Objectives (O)
10. Maintenance of TACC
Performance Indicator (PI)
14.Confirmation of TACC
11. TRFMAC, Scientists,
SEWPaC and Managers
satisfied with TACC value
15.Analysis of individual catch
return data shows no
anomalies
16.No reported incidences of
high grading or discarding
occurring
17.Minimum holdings valid
18. Observer data validates
catch composition and catch
returns. Length frequency data
shows no anomalies No
indications of localised
depletion
19.Industry, Scientists,
SEWPaC or Managers are
satisfied with operations
Northern Territory Government
Trigger point (TP)
13. Breach of performance
indicators by operator/s (PI15,
16). MA1, MA10, MA11, MA13
activation.
Management action (MA)
MA10. Observers gather data (need ~500 otoliths,
lengths etc) to assist in future research. This
information may either be collected ‘at sea’ or from
landed catch.
14. A 30% decline in catch from the MA11. Detailed analysis of all gathered data is
previous year (PI12,13). MA10, undertaken. Approx. $20 per otoliths, + ~$33,000
for Stock Assessment report. Additional costs are
MA12 activation.
proposed to be recovered from industry annually
via Tier 3 mechanism.
15. When 30% of the TACC is
taken in a year (PI14, 18).
MA12. A review of the appropriateness of the
MA10, MA11 activation.
current TACC is undertaken using all data.
16. When 70% of the TACC is
MA13. TRFMAC to review fishery operating
taken in a year (PI14, 18,19).
practices
MA11, MA12 activation.
17. When 80% of the TACC is
taken in a year (PI19). MA13
activation.
MA14. All activity in the fishery is halted until the
next quota allocation period.
18. When the TACC is taken in a
year. MA 14 activation.
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DECISION RULES OUTLINING FISHERY OBJECTIVES, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, TRIGGERS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES
Species or group
Group species
Objectives (O)
12. Maintenance of TACC
Performance Indicator (PI)
20. Confirmation of TACC
13. TRFMAC, Scientists,
SEWPaC or Managers
satisfied with TACC value
21. Analysis of individual
catch return data shows no
anomalies
14. To identify key group
species
22. No reported incidences of
high grading or discarding
occurring
Trigger point (TP)
19. Breach of performance
indicators by operator/s (PI21, 22).
MA1, MA15, MA16, MA19
activation.
Management action (MA)
MA15. Observers gather data (otoliths if required,
lengths etc) to assist in future research. This
information may either be collected ‘at sea’ or from
landed catch.
20. Scientists or Managers have a
concern for sustainability of
species (PI22, 24, 25). MA15,
MA16 activation.
MA16. Detailed analysis of all gathered data is
undertaken. Fisheries to investigate species and
compile & review biological data, this may require
modelling, spatial & stock assessment. Additional
costs are proposed to be recovered from industry
annually via Tier 3 mechanism.
23. Minimum holdings verified
21. Breach of minimum holdings
(PI23). MA18 activation.
24. Observer data validates
catch composition and catch
returns. Length frequency data
shows no anomalies No
indications of localised
depletion of a species
22. A species increases by more
than 15% of the species previous
years weight or, becomes
dominant relative to other species
in the group (PI21, 25). MA15,
MA16, MA19 activation.
25. Industry, Scientists,
SEWPaC or Managers are
satisfied with operations
MA17. A review of the appropriateness of the
current TACC is undertaken using all data.
MA18. No entry to the fishery until formal
verification of minimum holdings
MA19. TRFMAC to review fishery operating
23. A 30% decline in catch from the practices
previous year. MA15, MA17
activation.
MA20. All activity in the fishery is halted until the
next quota allocation period.
24. When 30% of the TACC is
taken in a year (PI20). MA15
activation.
25. When 45% of the TACC is
taken in a year (PI20, 25). MA16
activation.
26. When 50% of the TACC is
taken in a year. MA17, MA19
activation (PI20).
27. When the TACC is taken in a
year. MA 20 activation.
Northern Territory Government
Page 5 of 7
DECISION RULES OUTLINING FISHERY OBJECTIVES, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, TRIGGERS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES
Species or group
Bycatch species
Objectives (O)
15. To maintain bycatch at
or below 10% of the annual
estimated catch weight for
dropline and fish-trap fishing
gear
16. To maintain bycatch
below 25% of the annual
estimated catch weight for
finfish long-line gear
17. To maintain shark
bycatch below 50% of the
annual estimated bycatch
weight
Performance Indicator (PI)
26. Observer data identifies
key species, validates reported
discard ratios, including sharks
Trigger point (TP)
28. Breach of Performance
Indicators (PI26) by operator/s.
MA1, MA22, MA23 activation.
27. Industry, Scientists,
SEWPaC and Managers are
satisfied with sustainability of
species and general
operations
29. Scientists, SEWPaC or
Managers have a concern for
sustainability of a species (PI27,
28). MA21, MA22 activation.
28. Observed or reported
shark bycatch increases by
more than 30% of the previous
year’s shark bycatch weight
Management action (MA)
MA21. Fisheries to investigate species and compile
& review biological data, this may require
modelling, spatial & stock assessment. Additional
costs are proposed to be recovered from industry
annually via Tier 3 mechanism.
MA22. TRFMAC to review fishery operating
practices
MA23. Gear in the fishery to be reviewed by
TRFMAC to evaluate bycatch. Gear may be
modified or abolished to address identified issues.
18. To identify key bycatch
species
Northern Territory Government
Page 6 of 7
DECISION RULES OUTLINING FISHERY OBJECTIVES, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, TRIGGERS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSES
Species or group
Endangered,
threatened or
protected species
and/or communities
and/or ecosystem
components
Objectives (O)
19. Maintain present
levels of interaction
between Timor Reef
fishing operations and
endangered, threatened
or protected species and
communities.
20. Minimise effects of
fishing on ecosystem
components
21. Fish traps are
individually set, not
attached to each other
and are not set on reef
habitat areas.
Northern Territory Government
Performance Indicator (PI)
29. No unreported incidences
of protected species
interactions
Trigger point (TP)
30. Breach of Performance
Indicators (PI29, 30) by operator/s.
MA1, MA24, MA25 activation.
30. Observer data validates
Endangered, Threatened or
protected species and/or
communities reporting
practices.
31. Scientists, SEWPaC or
Managers have a concern for
sustainability of a species and/or
ecosystem component (PI32, 33).
MA24, MA26 activation.
31. No fish trap damage to
reef habitat areas observed or
reported.
32. Fish traps are not individually
set (PI31). MA25, MA26 activation.
Management action (MA)
MA24. TRFMAC to review fishery operating
practices.
MA25. Gear in the fishery to be reviewed by
TRFMAC to evaluate impacts. Gear may be
modified, or abolished to address identified
issues.
MA26. Fisheries to investigate species
and/or ecosystem component and compile &
review relevant data. Additional costs are
proposed to be recovered from industry
annually via Tier 3 mechanism.
32. No identification of
threatening processes.
33. Industry, Scientists,
SEWPaC or Managers are
satisfied with sustainability of
all species and/or ecosystem
components.
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