Applications open for membership of all Protected Zone Joint Authority committees
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), on behalf of the Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA), is seeking applications for Chairs, scientific members and industry members of PZJA consultative forums.
The appointments will be from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2028, for the positions listed below.
- Torres Strait Finfish Working Group – Chair, two scientific members (socio-economic expertise welcome), one scientific permanent observer and one industry permanent observer.
- Torres Strait Finfish Resource Assessment Group – Chair, three scientific members and one industry permanent observer.
- Torres Strait Hand Collectables Working Group – Chair and two scientific members (socio-economic expertise welcome).
- Torres Strait Hand Collectables Resource Assessment Group – Chair and three scientific members.
- Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Working Group – Chair, one scientific member, one scientific member (economics expertise) and three industry members.
- Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Resource Assessment Group – Chair, two scientific members and two industry members.
- Torres Strait Scientific Advisory Committee – Chair and four scientific members (socio-economic expertise welcome).
- Torres Strait Prawn Management Advisory Committee – Chair, five industry members and two scientific members.
Please note that all Traditional Inhabitant industry members for PZJA forums will be selected through a separate process.
PZJA consultative forums
The PZJA Management Advisory Committees (MACs) and Working Groups (WGs) provide the PZJA with management advice. They report to the PZJA on policy and operational matters, where relevant, relating to the management of Torres Strait fisheries.
This role includes providing scientific, research and other information about the status of fish stocks and the impact of fishing on the marine environment. MAC and WG advice is used to inform the PZJA’s management decisions.
Resource Assessment Groups (RAGs) provide the PZJA with scientific and economic advice on the biological, economic and wider ecological factors affecting fisheries and RAG advice is used to inform PZJA’s management decisions. RAG advice is used to inform AFMA’s management decisions.
See PZJA Committees for more information including records from past meetings of MACs, WGs and RAGs.
Chairs
The Chairs of PZJA consultative forums play a key role in ensuring thorough and effective discussion about particular fisheries consistent with each forum’s Terms of Reference. The Chair is the primary communication link between the consultative forum and the PZJA and other PZJA consultative forums.
Scientific members
Scientific members of PZJA consultative forums:
- contribute impartial scientific, environmental, economic or social-science expertise to consultative forum deliberations
- contribute to and conduct peer review of data, information and analyses tabled at consultative forum meetings
- provide advice on the latest scientific, economic and social-science issues of relevance to the fishery.
Industry members
Industry members of PZJA consultative forums:
- contribute to consultative forum deliberations, knowledge and experience relevant to the particular fisheries and the fishing industry generally
- contribute fisheries expertise to achieve the best resource assessment outcomes for the fishery
- regularly and impartially report to, and liaise with, other operators in the fishery on the activities of the consultative forum.
For more information on the roles and responsibilities of Chairs, scientific and industry members, and permanent observers, please see the PZJA Fisheries Management Paper 1.
Apply for MAC, WG or RAG membership
For industry positions on any of the MACs, WGs or RAGs, please submit a written expression of interest that:
- is no longer than one page
- specifies which MACs, WGs and/or RAGs you are applying for
- outlines your relevant experience and/or qualifications.
For all other positions, please submit your curriculum vitae and a brief cover note that includes a summary of:
- your relevant experience and qualifications
- which MACs, WGs and/or RAGs you are applying for
- the reason for your application.
Applications must be submitted to AFMA before close of business on 16 April 2025.
Email your application to PZJA.secretariat@afma.gov.au or post it to:
Sarah Kirkcaldie
Northern Fisheries
Fisheries Management Branch
Australian Fisheries Management Authority
PO Box 7051
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610
Please contact Sarah Kirkcaldie on (02) 6225 5555 or email PZJA.secretariat@afma.gov.au for more information about the role of MAC, WG and RAG members, and the selection process.