February 2017 Prawn Fishery Management Plan Amendments

The Torres Strait Prawn Fishery Management Plan Amendments are now in force. Most of the amendments correct minor drafting errors or remove redundant provisions.

The most significant amendment introduces a provision to cancel units of fishing capacity in the fishery that are surrendered or for which a levy is not paid. 

This is an important step for the fishery as it will allow the total allowable effort (TAE) effort to be distributed across the fewer remaining units of fishing capacity and thereby increase their unit value (fishing nights).

The remaining licence holders who are paying levies will benefit. Before this amendment was made, any surrendered units of fishing capacity remained in the fishery unable to be used by anyone.

• Letter to licence holders including the policy and procedure for licence renewal and levy recovery in the TSPF

• 2017 TSPF management plan amendment

• TSPF Management Plan 2009 amendments with explanation and comparisons