PIRSA Fisheries & Aquaculture
Fisheries Policy and Management Unit Services Delivered 2013-14 – Northern Zone Rock
Lobster Fishery
Key Deliverables
Key Activities
Development and implementation of
management plans for commercial
and recreational fisheries, including
harvest strategy development and
ESD risk assessment
 Development and preparation of a Management Plan for the South Australian Commercial
Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (the ‘Management Plan’) including providing advice
about the progress of the Management Plan
Development and implementation of
Aboriginal traditional fishing
management plans, in accordance
with Indigenous Land Use
Agreements
 Not applicable for 2013/14
Day-to-day preparation of necessary
legislative instruments and/or advice
required for the management of
fisheries (regulations, closure
notices, licence conditions,
Ministerial exemptions etc).
 Introduced licence conditions to implement mandatory use of Sea Lion Exclusion Devices
(SLEDS)
 Commenced a harvest strategy review for South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster
Fishery on the recommendation of the Rock Lobster Fishery Management Advisory
Committee (RLFMAC). Review including three formal working group meeting with
stakeholder representatives. Provided executive support, developed papers and reports.
Progressed recommendations of the working group to the RLFMAC and Research
Subcommittee

Provided Ministerial exemption to allow for use of alternate sea lion exclusion devices as
part of industry trial.
 Provided Ministerial exemption to facilitate industry observer program as part of the
ongoing pot sampling program and to facilitate trial of alternate SLEDs.
 Provided Ministerial exemption for Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) exemption for vessels
<7.5 m
 Amended licence conditions to allow for industry trials of alternative SLEDS
 Provided Ministerial exemption to allow for small vessels to be exempt from Vessel
Monitoring System (VMS) requirements for consistency with other sectors
 Prepared for, participated in and followed up on actions related to the cost recovery
process for the NZRLF.
 Provided advice to the Fisheries Council of South Australia, Executive Director and
Director and responded to correspondence on issues related to the Northern Zone Rock
Lobster Fishery
Day-to-day provision of advice to the
Minister or his/her delegate on setting
total allowable commercial catch and
effort levels
 Met with South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) on several
occasions to discuss the status of stocks in the NZRLF and implications for management
 Organised and participated in meeting of the Rock Lobster Fishery Management Advisory
Committee (RLFMAC) to discuss recommendation for 2013/14 TACC for the NZRLF.
Prepared minutes from the RLFMAC meeting.
 Provided advice to the Minister and his delegate on setting 2013/14 total allowable
commercial catch for NZRLF
Preparation of other policies to
support fisheries management
 Introduced mandatory use of SLEDS in the Northern Zone for commercial rock lobster pots
Preparation of submissions to enable
 Completed required documentation to support reassessment of South Australian Rock
 Commenced research project to inform consideration of temporal and spatial management
arrangements as recommended by the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (NZRLF)
Harvest Strategy review including preparation of advice to the Minister and coordination of
research permits in collaboration with the South Australia Northern Zone Rock Lobster
Fishermen’s Association (SANZRLFA)
regular assessment of commercial
fisheries under the EPBC Act
Lobster Fishery (including NZRLF) by Department of the Environment (DotE) under the
EPBC Act.
Preparation of annual report to the
Australian Government on EPBC Act
requirements for all SA fisheries
 Provided update on the NZRLF for DotE annual report
Preparation of regular fisheries status
reports
 Reviewed SARDI Stock assessment report and fishery status reports for NZRLF
Delivery of Fisheries Council projects
 Continued development of a management plan for NZRLF through the RLFMAC
 Reviewed Econsearch report on the Economic Indicators for NZRLF Economic indicators
for the South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster 2012/13
 Commenced review of harvest strategy for NZRLF through the RLFMAC
Day-to-day development and
maintenance of productive working
relationships and outcomes through
cooperative management and
collaboration with stakeholders
 Collaborated with industry and SARDI to commence a research project investigating
spatial and temporal fisheries management options for the NZRLF including executive
support to the research team, development of media releases and Ministerial briefings
 Attended two planning meetings to monitor progress of the research project
 Provided management advice at two RLFMAC and two RLFMAC Research Subcommittee
meetings including consideration of the management plan for the NZRLF, consideration of
the harvest strategy review, progress of the spatial/temporal management research project
and implementation of SLEDS in the commercial and recreational Northern Zone Rock
Lobster Fishery
 Monitored activity in the industry led commercial trial of alternative SLEDS
 Attended two South Australian Rock Lobster Advisory Council (SARLAC) meetings to
update the Council on fisheries management activities
 Attended one Southern Rocklobster Ltd Research Development & Extension meetings to
discuss and prioritise research activities relevant to South Australia’s Rock Lobster Fishery
 Attended two industry meetings in collaboration with SANZRLFA to present fishery
research and management activities
 Met with SANZRLF Executive Officer on a number of occasions to discuss ongoing and
emerging issues including spatial and temporal management, take home lobster and
marine park impacts on the fishery
 Attended and presented at 2013 Trans-Tasman Rock Lobster Industry Congress in
Sydney
 Responded to enquiries from industry and other stakeholders on issues related to the
NZRLF