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    The 2023–24 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 9 May 2023.

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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Agriculture and land
  3. Fisheries
  4. Domestic fisheries

Sidebar first - Fisheries

  • Fisheries
    • Aquaculture
      • Aquaculture Farm Biosecurity Plan
      • Starting an aquaculture business
      • Aquaculture publications and useful links
      • International collaboration
      • National Aquaculture Statement
      • National Aquaculture Strategy
      • Aquaculture industry in Australia
    • Australian fisheries communication strategy
    • Australia's seafood trade
    • Domestic fisheries
      • Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy and Guidelines
        • 2005 ministerial direction to AFMA
        • Public consultation on the draft Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy
        • Questions and answers
        • Review of the Harvest Strategy Policy and Guidelines
        • Terms of reference
      • Commonwealth fisheries resources sharing framework
      • National Fisheries Plan
      • Managing Australian fisheries
        • Small Pelagic Fishery
          • Campaign responses
      • National Competition Policy Review of Commonwealth Fisheries Legislation
      • The Australian Fishing Zone
      • South East Trawl Fishery structural adjustment package
    • Exporting fish and fish products
    • Fisheries and the environment
      • Commonwealth Marine Reserves
      • Fisheries Bycatch
        • Australian Seals and Sea Lions
        • Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch
        • Seabird bycatch in Australian fisheries
        • National Policy on Fisheries Bycatch
        • Public consultation on the draft Commonwealth Fisheries Bycatch Policy
      • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
      • Sharks
        • Response to the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Humane Society International
        • Response to the Australian Marine Conservation Society save our sharks campaign
    • Fisheries management review
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    • Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
      • Overview: illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
      • Compliance
      • FAO Agreement on Port State Measures
      • How flags of convenience provide cover for IUU fishing
      • Plans of action for IUU fishing
        • International and National Plans of Action
      • Steps Australia has taken to address illegal fishing
      • Combating IUU fishing and promoting sustainable fisheries in Southeast Asia
        • Accredited monitoring control and surveillance (MCS) training course
        • Fisheries Officer Exchange Program
        • Southeast Asia Regional Innovation Fund for Fishing (SEA-RIFF)
        • Targeted capacity building support
    • International fisheries
      • Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
      • Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna
        • Southern Bluefin Tuna
          • National recreational fishing survey of Southern Bluefin Tuna
      • Cooperation - Multilateral and Regional
        • APEC Fisheries Working Group
        • Indonesia - Australia Fisheries Cooperation
        • Pacific Ocean Fora
        • Papua New Guinea - Australia Fisheries Cooperation
        • Regional fisheries issues affecting Australia
        • United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Committee on Fisheries
      • Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
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      • Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
    • Legal and arrangements
    • Recreational fishing
    • Statutory Fishing Rights Allocation Review Panel
      • Applications for an Appeal
      • Contact details
      • Decisions
      • SFRARP frequently asked questions
      • Functions and power
    • Useful fisheries links
    • National Fishing Advisory Council
      • Priorities

Domestic fisheries

Australia's commercial fishing and aquaculture industry is worth around $3.6 billion per year (ABARES 2023) and employs about 17,000 people (ABARES 2019). Each year, Commonwealth managed fisheries generate over $370 million in value alone, which represents about 27% of the total value of all seafood produced by wild caught fisheries in Australia(ABARES 2022).

Australia has the world’s third largest fishing zone (8,148,250 square kilometres). Our Exclusive Economic Zone, the area of the sea for which we have economic rights and responsibilities, contains some 3700 known species of fish, over 2800 species of mollusc and over 2300 species of crustaceans. However, only a small proportion of these are commercially fished.

Despite the vastness of Australia’s waters, they are relatively nutrient poor. As a result, the waters around Australian tend to have low productivity.

Up to date information on the biological and economic status of fish stocks managed by the Australian Government can be found from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

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Last updated: 24 May 2023

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.