Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Minister
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Plant health
    • Drought and rural support
    • Mouse infestation advice
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade Lowering biosecurity risks to Australia, and assisting industry to accelerate growth towards a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2023-24

    Budget 2023-24

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

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

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

Sidebar first - Fisheries

  • Domestic fisheries
    • Commonwealth Fisheries Policy Statement
    • 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
    • Review of Cancellation Provisions in Commonwealth Fisheries Legislation
    • The Australian Fishing Zone
    • South East Trawl Fishery structural adjustment package

Managing Australian fisheries

In Australia, fisheries management responsibilities are spread across multiple jurisdictions (the Commonwealth, states and the Northern Territory). The Commonwealth manages commercial fisheries within the Australian Fishing Zone, which generally extends from 3 to 200 nautical miles off the coast. The Commonwealth also manages the activities of Australian-flagged fishing vessels operating on the high seas (beyond 200 nautical miles). The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is responsible for the day-to-day management and compliance of Commonwealth fisheries.

Under the Offshore Constitutional Settlement (OCS), state and Northern Territory governments are generally responsible for managing fisheries out to 3 nautical miles from the coast. However, these default management responsibilities can be varied through the OCS arrangements.

In some fisheries off northern and western Australia the responsibility for management is jointly managed by Joint Authorities with representation between the Commonwealth and the relevant states and territories, and the Torres Strait Regional Authority.

The Commonwealth has generally limited its jurisdiction to commercial fishing, with state and Northern Territory governments assuming responsibility for recreational and Indigenous fishing.

The Australian Government cooperates internationally through regional fisheries management organisations to support the management of internationally straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. For more information on Australia’s internal fisheries management and cooperation see the department’s illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and international fisheries web​pages. ​

The Australian Government ensures Commonwealth fisheries are managed sustainably for the benefit of all Australians. The Australian Government is committed to the sustainable use of fisheries resources and the conservation of marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Commonwealth fisheries management considers both the biological and economic consequences of fishing, including the effects on the broader marine environment.

Key commercial stocks in Commonwealth fisheries are managed under the Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy and Guidelines and the Commonwealth Fisheries Bycatch Policy. These policies guide an evidence–based, precautionary approach to setting catch levels to ensure that fisheries provide maximum economic returns while maintaining stocks at sustainable levels.

  • Response to the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Humane Society International - 1 April 2021
  • Response to Australian Marine Conservation Society - 18 September 2019
  • Response to Australian Marine Conservation Society - 26 March 2019
  • ​Response to Humane Society International and Australian Marine Conservation Society​ - 17 December 2018
  • ​​​Response to Australian Marine Conservation Society - 15 June 2018
  • Response to Australian Marine Conservation Society - 8 January 2018
  • Response to the Save our Marine Life campaign​ - 20 December 2017

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 04 November 2022

© 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.