AFMA and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) are assisting 12 operators with installation of onboard cameras to assist them to comply with a Temporary Order requirement in the Gillnet Hook and Trap (GHAT) Fishery.
Once installed, the 12 onboard cameras and electronic monitoring systems will capture imagery and fishing data from the vessels. Data such as GPS coordinates, time stamps and video images of fishing activities will be analysed and compared to logbook data. This will assist fishers to comply with the requirement to accurately record all threatened, endangered and protected species interactions in logbooks. It will also assist them to meet the obligation to have either 100% observer coverage or an onboard camera and EMS in place when fishing in the GHAT.
Having 12 boats with electronic monitoring equipment will provide AFMA with a comprehensive picture of fishing operations and compliance levels in the fishery. The initiative is part of an ongoing strategy aimed at strengthening management arrangements and data collection in relation to interactions between the gillnet fishery and threatened, endangered and protected species including Australian Sea Lions, dolphins, seabirds and some shark species.
