In line with the Torres Strait Fisheries (Quotas for Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar)) Management Plan 2018, the Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) Standing Committee has appointed a team of independent consultants to conduct a review of the future arrangements of the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation to Traditional Inhabitants from 16 island communities as well as the Northern Peninsular Area of the Torres Strait.
The purpose of the meetings is to listen and gather community opinions about the best way to use the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation to get the most benefit for local people.
The meetings will be held during late August and early September 2024, are being managed on behalf of the PZJA by the Torres Strait Regional Authority, who will provide advance notice of meeting times and venues via the Torres News, posters on Ailan, IBIS screens, Facebook, and fishers’ networks.
Frequently asked questions
Independent review into Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation
What is the independent review about?
The PZJA Standing Committee is guiding the development of an alternative framework and processes for deciding on Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocations.
The review is required to meet the aspirations of the Traditional Inhabitants (TI). To find out what those aspirations are, two consultants will visit communities in the Torres Strait (TS) and the Northern Peninsular Area (NPA).
Why is it an independent review?
The TSRA Board and its internal Fisheries Advisory Committee have recommended that the PZJA engage an independent consultancy to ensure the TS and NPA communities’ views are considered. It is important that the review be done outside of the PZJA agencies (TSRA, AFMA, QDAF and DAFF) to ensure there is no conflict between the review and the overall decision making and implementation process, for which the agencies will be responsible.
Will the review make recommendations about who should own the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota units in the Torres Strait?
No. The review is about how the quota units allocated to the TI sector will be used in the future. This requires consultation with the community to develop suitable arrangements for the TI quota that will give the highest benefit to the TS and NPA communities.
What is quota a unit?
A quota unit is a unit of fishing capacity in the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaia) fishery.
A total of 999,997 quota units were granted (allocated) under the Tropical Rock Lobster Management Plan.
- 662,016 quota units (or 66.2%) were allocated to the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) comprising: 562,000 units to hold on behalf of the traditional inhabitant sector, and 100,016 units for the three primary/tender Transferable Vessel Holder (TVH) licence packages it holds. They have use of the TSRA allocation under the “Olympic Model”.
- 337,981 quota units (or 33.8%) were allocated to holders of the remaining TVH licences.
What is the “Olympic Model”?
The Olympic Model is currently operating in the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) fishery. It is a shared pool of quota units, granted or allocated in trust to the TSRA, as a resource for all Traditional Inhabitant Boat (TIB) fishers. This allocation represented 66.2% or 662,016 quota units from a total of 999,997 quota units available.
Does this review cover all the quota units?
No, just the 662,016 quota units – 66.2% allocated to TSRA (on behalf of the TI - TIB sector) and three primary/tender TVH licence packages.
Who are the consultants conducting this review?
The consultants have been chosen because of their relevant expertise in ocean law, economics, and quotas in the fishing industry. They are Professor Allistair McIlgorm and Distinguished Professor Stuart Kaye from the University of Wollongong’s Australian National Centre for Marine Resources and Security (ANCMRS) and Tony Craig, Managing Director of the NZ seafood industry consultancy, Terra Moana Limited.
Is the review necessary?
Any arrangements need to be checked to see if they are working and if they can work better. The Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation system is no different. The PZJA and the independent review team want to make sure this valuable resource is giving the people of the TS the highest benefit it can, in line with the aspirations of the traditional owners.
From a legal perspective, the review is also a requirement under the Torres Strait Fisheries (Quotas for Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar)) Management Plan 2018, which is aligned with the Torres Strait Treaty 1978.
What is the scope of the review?
The scope for the consultants is to recommend an alternative framework and processes for the allocation of Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota units for use by the traditional inhabitant sector.
The framework is a series of policies and processes to provide operational and governance rules and guidelines.
The consultants are required to make recommendations to the PZJA that meet the aspirations of TI sector fishers and their communities and achieve the best outcomes. That is why the community meetings are so important – so the independent consultants can hear the views from the community and report them back to the PZJA.
The review scope does not include ownership of quotas.
Who does the review affect?
The review into the management of the allocation of Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quotas directly affects TI sector fishers. The review also has implications for the whole TS community because Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) is the biggest and most profitable fishery in the TS, with value of production worth an estimated $16.1 million (ABARES 2021-22).
The consultation – community meetings and stakeholder discussions
How will the consultation happen?
The consulting team, who are conducting the independent review, plan to meet with communities from the NPA and 17 islands, as well as talk to other stakeholders to gather as many views as it can regarding future arrangements for Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocations for use by the TI sector. This will happen in late August and early September 2024. Professor McIlgorm and Mr Craig are keen to have face to face, open discussions about the current arrangement and what aspirations the TI have for this system.
How will I know when and where the meetings will be?
Communities will be informed through the Torres News, posters on Ailan, IBIS screens, Facebook, and fishers’ networks.
When will the consultations take place?
In community meetings and other discussions at the end of August and early September 2024. Communities will be notified of when and where the meetings will be held in mid-August.
What will be discussed at community meetings?
The consultants will facilitate discussions at the meetings on broad themes including community views about how the quotas are currently used and aspirations for the future use of the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation. They will not be discussing ownership of quotas.
How will the information the consultants collect from the meetings be used?
The consultants will include the views of your community in their interim and final reports. This will help the PZJA to decide on the best arrangements for the use of Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation to bring the most benefit to Ailan and NPA-based Torres Strait Islanders.
Why should I attend meetings about the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation management?
The outcome of the review will affect future generations and have an impact on the whole region and its people. The PZJA Standing Committee wants to ensure as many voices as possible are heard before the PZJA makes its decision on the future use of the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation. They want to understand what is important to you and how you want to use these allocations to benefit your community.
It is important you come along to the meetings and have your say.
Background information
What is PZJA’s strategic role?
The PZJA monitors the condition of designated fisheries within the Torres Strait Protected Zone (TSPZ) and formulates policies and plans for their management. The PZJA regards the rights and obligations conferred on Australia by the Torres Strait Treaty, in particular the protection of the traditional way of life and livelihood of the traditional inhabitants, including their traditional fishing.
What is the PZJA’s role in the independent review of Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation system?
As required by section 17 of the Torres Strait Fisheries (Quotas for Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar)) Management Plan 2018, the PZJA Standing Committee tasked the TSRA to appoint consultants to conduct an independent review of the TRL quota allocations system, as it applies to quota units for use by Traditional Inhabitants sector (meetings 43 and 44). Once the review is completed and the final report submitted, the PZJA will consider the findings.
What is the TSRA’s role in the 2024 Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) Quota Allocation Review?
As a member agency of the PZJA, the TSRA was given the task to coordinate the appointment of the consultants and provide logistical assistance (obtaining permissions to visit the islands, travel, communications) for the consulting team.
How will the PZJA make its decision about Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation management in the Torres Strait?
- Any changes are consistent with and support the pursuit of the Torres Strait Treaty and legislative objectives relevant to the PZJA.
- Any differential economic impacts of allocations on individual fishing concession holders are minimised unless there are reasons, justifiable with respect to the Torres Strait Treaty and legislative objectives relevant to the PZJA, that dictate otherwise.