Torres Strait Prawn Management Advisory
Committee
(TSPMAC)
CHAIRS SUMMARY
TSPMAC 16
23-24 JUNE 2015
CAIRNS
CHAIR: Stuart Richey
The 16th meeting of the Torres Strait Prawn Management Advisory Committee
(TSPMAC) was held at the Northern Fisheries Centre in Cairns on 23-24 June 2015.
The main items discussed were the outcomes of the research project looking at the
TSPF profitability and flow of benefits, setting the total allowable effort limit for the
2016-2018 fishing seasons and proposed changes to turtle excluder device
legislation. The key outcomes are summarised below.
TSPF profitability and Flow of Benefits to Torres Strait Communities
The profitability and flow of benefits project was undertaken during 2014-15, with
support and good levels of engagement from active fishers and Traditional Owners'
and their communities. From the profitability perspective, the project reiterated what
the TSPMAC has been discussing during past meetings, that licence holders need
less restrictive management arrangements to support individual and fleet level
profitability.
The Principle Investigator (PI) concluded that the most prospective options to
increase profitability and hence viability for the fishery would be changes to boat and
gear restrictions to increase efficiency and attract operators from adjacent trawl
fisheries. The PI also suggested an earlier season opening that would provide
market benefits would assist the viability of the fishery.
The flow of benefit discussions identified a number of options for improving the flow
of benefits to communities including opportunities for community members to work
on trawlers and receive training, part time logistical support people on Masig Island,
and potential to store frozen prawns in freezers on communities, including for local
sale.
Flow of benefit options should be critically assessed against agreed objectives for
any future flow of benefits program to identify those most likely to generate suitable
benefits for Traditional Owners' and their communities. Future flow of benefit
initiatives should also impose very little, if any, direct costs on fishers particularly
when profitability is very low and the viability of the fishery is at risk.
The PI also noted there were some matters raised that run across all Torres Strait
fisheries that were great insights to move forward with. Commercial fishers and
community members alike all have desire to move forward with Torres Strait
fisheries, noting there can be a lot of road blocks to progress. Moving on from old
discussions and forward in decisions is vital to the future of Torres Strait Fisheries. A
stakeholder engagement plan was also raised as an important tool that could
facilitate better engagement in all Torres Strait fisheries.
Future operating environment of the TSPF
The TSPMAC rounded up five years of discussions around possible ways to improve
the economic viability of the TSPF by deciding the way forward on this matter was to
seek the Protected Zone Joint Authority to make a decision, noting the differing
views of stakeholder groups. The TSPMAC has been discussing options for
changing management arrangements in line with the objectives of the Torres Strait
Fisheries Act 1984 and TSPF Management Plan 2009. This involves maximising
economic efficiency and optimum utilisation of the fishery resources while continuing
to minimise impacts on the environment and traditional way of life and livelihood of
traditional inhabitants. Given the TSPMAC has not been able to come to a
resolution, they agreed the options should be presented to the PZJA, with the
different views of stakeholders, so they can make a decision on a way forward. The
committee noted they couldn’t continue to discuss these same matters any longer as
it is not facilitating effective management of this fishery. The PZJA will be
considering the options at its meeting in August 2015.
Seaswift Mother-shipping service
The TSPMAC noted the concerns that the mother-shipping service may cease
operations if effort in the TSPF does not increase. This has become a real threat with
one service being close to cancelled a few weeks ago. Some licence holders are
continuing to speak with Seaswift, however as a commercial operation, if they do not
have the demand to support their business
Total Allowable Effort for the 2016-2018 fishing seasons
The TSPMAC agreed that the TAE for the fishery should be set at 9,200 days for
three seasons, as allowed under the TSPF Management Plan 2009. Given the
stability of the fishery around low effort levels over the past four seasons, setting a
three year TAE is considered best practice as there is low risk, cost savings and
provides continuity for licence holders. The TAE can also be changed within and
between seasons if required.
Amendments to the Turtle Excluder Device Legislation
The TSPMAC discussed a range of minor changes to the TED legislation to bring it
into tighter alignment with the U.S standards, considered best practice around the
world. Alignment with U.S standards is also required to allow export accreditation for
the fishery to export product to the U.S. The suggested amendments will be sent to
license holders for comment before changes are progressed.
Bycatch and Discard Workplan
The committee signed off on a new Bycatch and Discard Workplan for the TSPF,
which details the work of the TSPMAC and fishery over the next three years relating
to bycatch. The workplan will be published on the PZJA website soon.
2015-16 Budget
The committee noted and discussed the draft 2015-16 budget for the TSPF. The
main point of discussion was the change of service from Fisheries Queensland to
AFMA, for licensing and VMS, causing the AFMA budget to go up, and Queensland
budget to go down. The overall cost recovered budget for the fishery has still
decreased this year.
Yours sincerely,
Mr Stuart Richey
TSPMAC Chairman
TSPMAC 16 DECISION RECORD
1.4.1 That TSPMAC members and invited participants:
i) DECLARED any interest details (pecuniary or other) in the fishery at the
commencement of the meeting;
ii) DECLARED any potential conflicts of interest prior to the commencement
of each agenda item; and
iii) AGREED to abide by the decision of the MAC regarding conflicts of
interest.
That TSPMAC NOTED the progress against actions items arising from previous
TSPMAC meetings as detailed in the attached table.
3.2.1 The TSPMAC NOTED the Industry report provided verbally in respect of the
2014 and 2015 Torres Strait Prawn Fishery, both the season to date and an outlook.
3.3.1 The TSPMAC NOTED the management update for the Torres Strait Prawn
Fishery (TSPF).
3.4.1 The TSPMAC NOTED the domestic compliance arrangements and
achievements in the Torres Strait Protected Zone (TSPZ) for the 2014/15 financial
year.
3.5.1 That the TSPMAC NOTED the final catch statistics for the 2014 fishing
season and the monthly trends in the catch and effort for the start of the 2015 fishing
season.
3.6.1 That the TSPMAC NOTED the key financial and economic performance results
contained within the ABARES report.
3.7.1 The TSPMAC NOTED the draft final report Improved TSPF profitability and
pathways for a sustained flow of TSPF benefits to Torres Strait Island Communities.
4.1.1 That the Torres Strait Prawn Management Advisory Committee (TSPMAC):
a. NOTED the history of TSPMAC discussions on management options for
the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery (TSPF) focussed on providing a less restrictive
fishing environment (detailed in Attachment 4.1A);
b. ACKNOWLEDGED the research and consultation conducted over the last
3 years relating to management options in the TSPF; and
c. AGREED that the committee could not come to a unanimous decision on
the way forward so the options should be sent to the PZJA for a decision.
4.2.1 That the TSPMAC DISCUSSED the process for setting the TSPF total
allowable effort limit for 2016-2018.
4.2.2 That the TSPMAC RECOMMENDED that the PZJA set the Total Allowable
Effort in the TSPF at 9,200 days for either the 2015 season only, or the 2015, 2016
and 2017 seasons.
4.2.3 That the TSPMAC NOTED that the proposed TAE is consistent with the TSPF
management plan, harvest strategy and PZJA sustainability reference points.
4.3.1 That the TSPMAC DISCUSSED the suggested amendments to the TSPF
Management Plan 2009.
4.3.2 The TSPMAC RECOMMENDED that the suggested amendments to the
management plan go ahead, except for the removal of treaty endorsement
conditions.
4.3.3 That the TSPMAC NOTED:
a. That amendments to the management plan will be made by a legislative
drafter.
b. A public comment period will be undertaken for the draft amendments
along with a native title notification period before the TSPMAC is asked to make a
recommendation to the PZJA.
4.4.1 The TSPMAC DISCUSSED the suggested amendments to the current TSPF
TED regulations to bring them into alignment with the United States TED
requirements.
4.4.2 The TSPMAC AGREED that the suggested amendments should go out to
licence holders for comment before amendments are made.
4.4.1 The TSPMAC NOTED the process for seeking TSPMAC comment on the
bycatch and discard workplan.
4.4.2 The TSPMAC APPROVED the final version of the bycatch and discard
workplan.