managing the scallop dive fishery (port phillip bay) fishery
TRANSCRIPT
Managing the Scallop Dive Fishery (Port
Phillip Bay) Fishery
Fisheries Victoria’s objectives for the PPB Dive Scallop fishery
Long-term sustainability of the scallop resource
Equitable resource access and use
Cost effective and participatory management
No change to recreational access- Recreational fishers retain access to the whole of the bay, no size limit and 100 scallop bag limit
Conservative management= reduced risk to the environment
Based primarily on the commercial scallop
Single transferable licence
Dive fishery- little environmental impact of the activity
Total Allowable Commercial Catch (quota)- limits the amount of scallops removed from the fishery each year
Annual stock assessment- evidence- based TACC
90 mm legal minimum length- maintains reproductive potential in the stock
Vessel monitoring system- track fishing activity and know where boats are operating
Conservative management approachsetting the TACC
Scallop abundance fluctuates naturally and distribution is patchy
TACCs must therefore be based on annual abundance surveys
A conservative harvest fraction of scallops greater than or equal to 90mm is set as the TACC- maintains reproductive potential in the stock
Proposed management plan for the fishery:
• Phased in approach to setting the TACC- 250 tonne maximum in the first year and 750 tonnes maximum thereafter
• Licence holder must demonstrate utilisation of the resource to obtain a TACC increase
• TACC is phased-in (250 tonnes then 65, 75, 90 and 100%)• Maximum 12 tonne TACC if no abundance survey is undertaken
Six commercial fishing zones spread the effort and minimise the risk of local depletion
Prime fishing areas are protected by two recreational fishing- only areas
Summary of the Port Phillip Bay Dive Scallop Fishery Management Plan
Founded on the principles of long-term sustainability of the fishery
No change to recreational access
Provides a conservative approach to managing the fishery for at least the next five years
Annual TACCs underpinned by robust stock assessments and demonstrated utilisation of the resource by the licence holder
Only scallops greater than or equal to 90mm can be harvested- ensures that sufficient reproductive potential remains for subsequent years
Maximum TACC in Year 1 of the management plan is 250 tonnes and 750 tonnes in its remaining years of the plan
Have your say on the Port Phillip Bay Dive Scallop Fishery Management Plan
The Draft Port Phillip Bay Dive Scallop Fishery Management Plan was released on 14 October for a 60 day public comment period
Please submit your comments in writing by 14 December to:
Bill Lussier
PO Box 114
Queenscliff 3225
or
The management plan and related documents are also found at:
http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/fisheries
The documents from these meetings will also be posted on the Departmental website