PZJA Out of Session Decisions 25 November 2009

Torres Strait Prawn Fishery 2010 Total Allowable Effort

1.1     The Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) AGREED:

a.     that the maximum combined Total Allowable Effort in the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery (TSPF) should be capped at 9,200 fishing days for the 2010 season, consistent with the PZJA sustainability reference point; and

b.     that the Papua New Guinea (PNG) share of the fishery, as offered by PNG at the 2009 Australian-PNG fisheries bilateral meeting, should not initially be made available to Australian operators for the 2010 season.

2009–10 PZJA Budget

1.1     The Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) NOTED:

a.     the change in Cost Sharing Arrangements for the PZJA fisheries for the 2009–10 financial year;

b.     that Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority will independently brief their respective Ministers on these changes to seek their endorsement; and

c.     the indicative budget for all PZJA Agencies for the 2009–10 financial year.

Torres Strait Prawn Fishery Levies for the 2010 Season

1.1     The Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) AGREED:

a.     to the levy for the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery (TSPF) in 2010 continuing to be calculated using the current formula for fixed  (licences) and variable (effort units) components noting that the variable component of the levies will be charged on a per unit basis as described in the TSPF Management Plan 2008;

b.     to the setting of levies for the TSPF for the 2010 fishing season at $4,229.06 per licence and $27.23 per effort unit;

c.     to the proposed Fisheries Levy (Torres Strait Prawn Fishery) Amendment Regulations 2009 (No.  ), Explanatory Memorandum and Explanatory Statement; and

d.     to the PZJA Chair presenting the Explanatory Statement, along with the proposed Fisheries Levy (Torres Strait Prawn Fishery) Amendment Regulations 2009 (No.  ) to the Federal Executive Council at their 12 November 2009 or subsequent Executive Council meeting to ensure that licences can be granted for the 2010 fishing season, commencing on 1 March 2010.

1.2     The PZJA NOTED:

1.     the Torres Strait Prawn Management Advisory Committee considered the TSPF levies for the 2010 season at an out-of-session meeting on 26 August 2009;

2.     that these levy amounts have been set using both Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) budgets;

3.     that the per licence levy has decreased from $5,833.39 in 2009 to $4,229.06 in 2010 ($1604.33 decrease) and the per unit levy has decreased from $32.35 in 2009 to $27.23 in 2010 ($5.12 decrease); and

that for the 2009–10 financial year, the total levy to be collected is $444,951 comprising a QPIF component of $186,471 and an AFMA component of $258,480. Of the total to be collected, QPIF will retain $186,471 to meet their expenses and provide $258,480 to AFMA to meet AFMA expenses.