Revised Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2020-21 Fishing Season (as at 26 February 2021)
On 25 February 2021, Senator the Hon. Jonathon Duniam determined an increase to the total allowable catch (TAC) of tropical rock lobster (TRL) in the Australian waters of the TRL Fishery from 200 tonnes to 420.863 tonnes for the 2020-21 fishing season (Torres Strait Fisheries Tropical Rock Lobster (Total Allowable Catch) Amendment Determination (No. 1) 2021). In line with the increased TAC, the kilogram value of each quota unit and available catch for each TRL fishery sector outlined below.
| TRL Fishery Sector | TAC (kilograms) | Number of quota units | Value of each quota unit (kilograms) | Available catch (kilograms) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Inhabitant Boat (TIB) licence holders | 420,863 | 662,016* | 0.420864 | 278,618.876 |
| Transferable Vessel Holder (TVH) licence holders | 337,981 | 142,244.124 |
*Held in trust by the TSRA
Australia-PNG catch sharing arrangements
This TAC increase is consistent with catch sharing arrangements between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently agreed under the Torres Strait Treaty. The arrangements comprise agreement on a global TAC of 623.5 tonnes and apportionment of catch between jurisdictions. Due to ongoing COVID-19 border restrictions, cross-endorsement of PNG boats to fish in the Australian waters of the Protected Zone TRL Fishery for the 2020-21 fishing season will not be permitted. AFMA is awaiting further advice from PNG National Fisheries Authority (NFA) on options for utilisation of PNG’s catch entitlement (109.113 tonnes).
Download an illustration of this agreement.
Further details regarding the revised TAC are provided in a letter to all TRL licence holders issued on 26 February 2021.