Important Note: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained herein. However, the information provided is intended as a plain English guide only and the Ministry of Fisheries shall in no way be liable for any loss, whether negligent or otherwise, arising out of the use of or reliance on this document. The document is not intended to replace the requirement for managers to familiarize themselves with the legislation contained in the Northern Shale Management Plan 2000; Fish resources.
Management Act 1994 (the Act); Fisheries Management Regulations 1995 and related licenses Conditions, management plans, notices, orders, exemption instruments and determinations issued under the Act. The web addresses for this legislation can be found on page 23 or can be accessed via links on the Department's website via the legislation link at: www.fish.wa.gov.au. This guide summarizes the management arrangements for the Managed Northern Demersal Snapper Fishery (NDSF) current at the time of publication (2016 season).
The license holder and the master of the vessel are responsible for accessing and interpreting this legislation. Communicator-Approved Guidelines for Automatic Locating of Northern Demersal Shad for Managed Fisheries (as signed by the Executive Director of Regional Services on March 11, 2014) (NDSF-Approved Guidelines);
A guide for the Northern Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery
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About the Northern Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery
The NDSF Management Plan
- Boundaries of the Northern Demersal Scalefish Fishery
Northern Demersal Scalefish Fishery Fishing Rules
- What do I need to fish in the NDSF?
- Where can’t I fish?
- Areas of the Fishery
- Closed Waters: Broome Recreational Fishing Area
- North of the Provisional Fisheries Surveillance and Enforcement Line
- Closed Waters - State Marine Parks
- Closed Waters: Commonwealth Marine Reserves
- Licensing Period / Season
- Permitted fishing gear
- How many units do I hold?
- How many days can I fish?
- Calculation of consumption of entitlement (fishing days)
- How many days do I have left?
- Landing Fish
- Where can I land fish?
- What fish can’t I land?
- What logbooks do I have to fill in and submit?
- Area 1 – Catch and Effort Monthly Returns Logbook
- Area 2 - NDSF Daily/Trip Logbook
- Size limits
- No recreational fishing from a commercial vessel
- Use of ‘bait bands’
- Can I have friends/visitors come commercial fishing with me?
- Commercial vessel survey, moorings and berthing in the NDSF
- What should I do if I suspect someone of fishing illegally?
You cannot fish in the restricted fishing area (shown in red in Figure 2 below (Table 3 of the Plan)), note that this closed area overlaps Area 1 and Area 2 of the ADF. Note: While Rowley Shoals Marine State Park (which includes Clerke and Imperieuse reefs) is not within the NDSF area, it is nearby. Note: While Mermaid Reef Commonwealth Marine Reserve is not within the NDSF area, it is nearby.
The type of equipment that may be used depends on whether you are allowed to fish in Area 1 or Area 2 of the fishery. It is an offense for a captain of a vessel authorized to fish in Area 1 to carry a handline with more than 6 hooks or a dropline with more than 30 hooks on board at any time while the boat is in the waters of the fishery (clause 15(5)). It is an offense for a master of a vessel authorized to fish in Area 2 to carry on board at any time a handline or dropline with more than 30 hooks while the boat is in the waters of the fishery (Article 15 , paragraph 5, and exemption (Annex 6)).
What if I want to leave traps in the waters of the Fishery when I return to Port. Under the plan, it is an offense to use more traps in a fishing zone than you have designated for fishing (Section 15(10)). Please note that traps left in the fishery's waters in this manner are not considered traps.
The Master must report the details of the lost trap(s) to the VMS via an EasyMail message via the Automatic Location Communicator or to the Compliance Manager in Broome (see contact details in Appendix 1) (Clause 15(11)). Reporting details of lost trap(s) to the Compliance Manager provides protection under clause 15(10) for future trips. What to do if a trap breaks and cannot be used for the remainder of the trip.
Under the provisions of the plan, a trap is considered a 'dumped trap' when it has been left in the waters of the fishery and a recommendation has been made to switch to line fishing. There is no limit to the number of days each license holder may fish in Area 1 of the fishery. Full instructions for completing this form are at the front of the log.
If you use bait lines, you must keep a copy of the exemption on board the vessel. Details of Fishwatch calls are sent to fisheries and marine officers in the region who will respond whenever possible.
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
Area 2 - Nomination Requirements
- Nomination of Intention to Fish (Clause 25A)
- Nomination to Commence Fishing (Clause 25B)
- Nomination to Cease Fishing (Clause 25C)
- Minimum period for Nomination – 24 Hours (Clause 25C(3))
- Failure to send a Nomination to Cease Fishing (Clause 25D(3))
- Failure to Send a Nomination to Commence Fishing (Clause 25D(2))
- Powerdown Approval Process
your voyage will commence in the Northern Territory, this nomination must be made immediately upon entering the waters of the Fisheries (i.e. WA). We recommend that you use the Date/Time Stamp and Position Stamp in EasyMail for nomination times and positions for Start and Stop fishing, rather than entering this information manually. It is an offense for the Master to use or carry more traps than indicated in this nomination (clause 15(10)).
This nomination must be made at the end of the fishing trip or when fishing in the zone has ceased; immediately after the last trap or line is secured on board the vessel. It either returns to the port area or leaves the fishing waters (this is the last day of the fishing trip); or You then receive a nomination to start fishing for another zone in Zone 2 (ie the vessel changes zones).
This historical forecasting method and the resulting catch-per-unit-effort data were assumed in determining the fishing capacity each year (ie, the total number of fishing days allowed). Make sure you are aware of this as eligibility will be inferred based on this rule - even if you submit daily starts and stops. When fishing more than one zone on a trip, the time of the last nomination to "cease fishing".
Do not refer to 'Exemption' in your nominations for zone A and C fishing, as from the start of the 2014 license period, all rights will rest on the managed fishing license. If you need to switch MFLs at sea, make sure you have sent a 'Start Fishing'. Only ONE zone may be nominated for fishing at a time (i.e. operating 'over the line' or nominating two zones based on a 'start and stop fishing' nomination is not allowed).
If the approved ALC messaging device is still inoperative and the commander is unable to make the mandatory nominations, the VMS unit should be called and the nomination details left as a voice message along with the commander's name and contact number. Please note that this phone call is a temporary option and that the computer should be repaired as soon as practical. Written approval from the VMS officer must be obtained before the ALC can be turned off, and the vessel must remain in one position when the power is turned off.
Prohibited/Protected Species
Bycatch Limits
Sharks
NDSF Contact Details (as at July 2016)
NDSF Internet links for relevant documents
How to calculate your entitlement – 2016 licensing period
If you have a different number of units, the same formulas can be used, just change the value from 160. You plan to fish with 35 traps and want to know how many hours you have available to fish. To calculate the number of hours you have with 35 traps, divide 20 traps by 35 traps and multiply by the total number of hours you worked previously (with 20 traps and 160 units).
If you have a different number of units, you will first need to use the formula in Example 1 to determine how many hours you have available when using 20 traps. Q: How many units did I use between a Start Fishing nomination and a Stop Fishing nomination in area B. You intend to fish using 35 traps in area B and want to know how many units you used between a Start . Nomination Fishing' and Nomination 'Scease Fishing'.
To calculate how much time or units you have used between a 'Start fishing' and. A is the total amount fished on the trip expressed in days of fishing (to be subtracted from the sum of the unit values of the units granted by the licence); (i.e. the number of 'fishing days' you have used on this trip) B is the number of days caught with traps (i.e. C is the number of fish traps nominated to be used each day on the trip; and.
To then convert this to units, you need to divide the number of days by the relevant unit value. Question: You have been fishing with traps in zone C and you want to calculate how many units you have used between the start and the end of fishing. You are an angler using 35 traps in zone C and you want to know how many units you have used between the start and end of the fishery.
A is the total amount of fishing carried out on the trip, expressed as a number of fishing days (subtracted from the sum of the unit values of the units allocated by the licence); (ie the number of 'fishing days' you used on this trip);. You can see in this formula the number of traps is not a factor, unlike in Zone A or B. To convert it to units, divide the number of days by the 2016 unit value for Zone C; which is 0.625.
Instrument of exemption – exem 2694 – use of bait bands by
Instrument of exemption – exem 2759 – revised calculation of the
Instrument of exemption – exem 2780 – line fishing area 2
