The PZJA currently has eight committees responsible for providing advice related to management of PZJA managed Torres Strait fisheries. Memberships of the committees and how to contact the industry members are detailed below. Find out about the upcoming meetings for the PZJA committees.
The Protected Zone Joint Authority
The PZJA comprises the Federal and State (Queensland) Ministers responsible for fisheries, and the Chair of the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA). The PZJA is responsible for making decisions relating to PZJA fisheries, however many day to day decisions have been delegated to the PZJA agencies, improving management efficiencies and the ability to make timely decisions and management responses.
Find a list of PZJA meeting decisions records here.
Committees
The Torres Strait Scientific Advisory Committee's (TSSAC) main role is to advise the PZJA on the strategic directions, priorities and funding for research relevant to meeting information needs and objectives of the PZJA and its relevant consultative bodies. The TSSAC membership includes: Find a list of TSSAC agendas, papers and minutes here.
The Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Working Group (TSTRLWG) is the principal forum where issues relating to the Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery are discussed.
The group assists with the preparation of management arrangements and to report to the PZJA on scientific, economic and other information on the status of fish stocks, sub-stocks, species (target and non-target species) and the impact of fishing in the TRL fishery on the marine environment.
At these meetings, any problems are identified and possible solutions are developed. The working group operates similarly to a management advisory committee and also provides an avenue for consultation between industry, managers, researchers, traditional inhabitants.
Find a list of TSTRLWG agendas, papers and minutes here.
The Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Resource Assessment Group is the research and scientific committee for management of the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery. The group provides advice to the PZJA and the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Working Group on the status of target stocks (including the type of information and research needed to support the stock assessments) and on fishing impacts upon byproduct, bycatch and the marine environment.
The group also evaluates alternative harvest options like the impact over time of different harvest strategies, effort levels, confidence levels for fishery assessments and risks to the success of fishery objectives. Economic factors affecting the fishery are a key consideration for the assessments.
Find a list of TSTRLRAG agendas, papers and minutes here.
The Torres Strait Finfish Working Group (TSFFWG) is the principal forum where issues relating to the Spanish Mackerel and Reefline Fisheries are discussed.
The group assists with the preparation of management arrangements and to report to the PZJA on scientific, economic and other information on the status of fish stocks, sub-stocks, species (target and non-target species) and the impact of fishing on the marine environment. At these meetings, any problems are identified and possible solutions are developed.
The working group operates similarly to a management advisory committee and also provides an avenue for consultation between industry, managers, researchers, traditional inhabitants.
Find a list of TSFFWG agendas, papers and minutes here.
The Torres Strait Finfish Resource Assessment Group (TSFRAG) is the research and scientific committee for management of the Torres Strait Finfish Fishery.
The group provides advice to the PZJA and the Torres Strait Finfish Working Group on the status of target stocks (including the type of information and research needed to support the stock assessments) and on fishing impacts upon byproduct, bycatch and the marine environment.
The group also evaluates alternative harvest options like the impact over time of different harvest strategies, effort levels, confidence levels for fishery assessments and risks to the success of fishery objectives. Economic factors affecting the fishery are a key consideration for the assessments.
Find a list of the TSFRAG agendas, papers and minutes on the TSFRAG page.
The Torres Strait Hand Collectables Working Group (TSHCWG) is the principal forum where issues relating to the Hand Collectable fisheries (trochus, Beche-de-mer, crab and pearl shell fisheries), are discussed.
The group assists with the preparation of management arrangements and to report to the PZJA on scientific, economic and other information on the status of fish stocks, sub-stocks, species (target and non-target species) and the impact of fishing on the marine environment.
At these meetings, any problems are identified and possible solutions are developed.
The working group operates similarly to a management advisory committee and also provides an avenue for consultation between industry, managers, researchers, traditional inhabitants.
Find a list of TSHCWG agendas, papers and minutes here.
The Torres Strait Hand Collectables Resource Assessment Group (TSHCRAG) is the research and scientific committee for management of the Hand Collectable fisheries (trochus, Beche-de-mer, crab and pearl shell fisheries).
The group provides advice to the PZJA and the Torres Strait Hand Collectables Working Group on the status of target stocks (including the type of information and research needed to support the stock assessments) and on fishing impacts upon byproduct, bycatch and the marine environment.
The group also evaluates alternative harvest options like the impact over time of different harvest strategies, effort levels, confidence levels for fishery assessments and risks to the success of fishery objectives. Economic factors affecting the fishery are a key consideration for the assessments.
Fina a list of TSHCRAG agendas, papers and minutes on the TSHCRAG page.
The Torres Strait Prawn Management Advisory Committee is the principal forum where issues relating to the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery are discussed.
The group assists with the preparation of management arrangements and to report to the PZJA on scientific, economic and other information on the status of fish stocks, sub-stocks, species (target and non-target species) and the impact of fishing in the TSPF on the marine environment. At these meetings, any problems are identified and possible solutions are developed.
The TSPMAC also provides an avenue for consultation between industry, managers, researchers, traditional inhabitants.*permanent observers on the TSPMAC. These people are not a part of the quorum in the decision making processes.
Find a list of the TSPMAC agendas, papers and minutes here.
The Torres Strait Prawn working group minutes are also available here. The TSPWG was the predecessor of the TSPMAC.
The The Torres Strait Fisheries Management Advisory Committee (TSFMAC) is the consultation body which considers matters relevant to all Torres Strait Fisheries. The TSFMAC has been in hiatus for around 6 years because there are no fishery specific committees that look after management.