The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) will expand satellite monitoring to all Commonwealth licensed fishing vessels as part of new measures to ensure the sustainability of Commonwealth fisheries.
The new measure will require all Australian fishing vessels operating in Commonwealth fisheries to install a vessel monitoring system by 1 July 2007.
AFMA General Manager of Operations, Paul Murphy, said the new measure protects the rights of lawful operators and is a significant step forward for fisheries management and the industry.
“This is a cost-effective way to monitor licensed vessels and to ensure fishery management measures and compliance resources have the greatest effectiveness.
“The systems will enable AFMA to ensure operators are complying with fisheries closures designed to protect breeding grounds, fragile ecosystems or species that are recovering from previous fishing activity.
“Integrated computer vessel monitoring system units are fitted to each vessel and regularly beam information on vessel positions. AFMA can then access location reports from vessels at any time. This measure is part of AFMA’s response to the ‘Securing Our Fishing Future’ package released by the Australian Government in December last year” he said.
