The Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (BSCZSF) is entering a new, cooperative era.
Following a successful trial during the 2009 season, a voluntary rotational closure regime is again in place for the 2010 season in the BSCZSF.
Over recent years, the BSCZSF has experienced lengthy closures to allow scallop stocks to rebuild to sustainable levels. From the beginning of 2006, there was a zero total allowable catch in place for Commercial and Doughboy Scallops with the fishery reopened to fishing in 2009.
The area open to fishing for the 2010 season has been divided into four voluntary zones. These zones will be opened progressively throughout the season, with Zone 1 open from the commencement of the season on 1 April 2010.
This cooperative approach, which worked well during 2009, is consistent with the BSCZSF Harvest Strategy, as it minimises the area of the fishery exposed to fishing operations while maximising the commercial utilisation of the scallop stock. The voluntary closures also provide greater certainty for operators.
To assist in the administration of the voluntary closures, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and industry have established the Bass Strait Scallop Industry Management Committee and developed guidelines which detail the process and criteria for the progressive opening of the voluntary zones.
Compliance with the voluntary closures will be monitored by AFMA through the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).
