The Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy and the Commonwealth Fisheries Bycatch Policy include provisions for review five years after commencement. The current policies were released in 2018.
We began a review of these policies in 2023. A review report was released in March 2026.
Fisheries management and science is evolving. The review considered whether the policies remain fit for purpose, and drew conclusions about how the polices could be updated to address emerging challenges and opportunities, including First Nations interests. The review also considered the Guidelines supporting each policy.
We are now working to revise the policies based on the review’s conclusions.
Commonwealth fisheries policies review: final report 2026
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Implementation review and technical review
The review was informed by an implementation review and a technical review.
The implementation review by ABARES considered how the Harvest Strategy Policy and Bycatch Policy have been implemented in Australian Government–managed fisheries.
The technical review of the Harvest Strategy Policy was provided by the University of Tasmania’s Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies. The technical review considered emerging science and research relevant to harvest strategies both in Australia and internationally and identified opportunities to improve the Harvest Strategy Policy settings.
Download technical review
The technical review may not meet Australian Government accessibility guidelines as it was not prepared by the department.
Consultation
We consulted with stakeholders during the review by:
- calling for written submissions through our Have Your Say website
- holding stakeholder workshops
- holding targeted stakeholder meetings
- meeting with the National Fishing Advisory Council
- engaging with a trial Indigenous Fisheries Technical Working Group convened by the University of Technology Sydney.
Have Your Say
We used the Have Your Say website to ask for written feedback on the policies and the draft report.
In October and November 2023, we asked for feedback on the policies and a discussion paper. We received 5 submissions.
Download 2023 submissions
- Australian Marine Conservation Society submission (PDF 276 KB)
- Commonwealth Fisheries Association submission (PDF 1 MB)
- Seafood Industry Australia submission (PDF 127 KB)
- Trial Indigenous Fisheries Technical Working Group submission (PDF 485 KB)
- Tuna Australia submission (PDF 189 KB)
Submissions may not meet Australian Government accessibility guidelines as they were not prepared by the department.
In November and December 2024, we asked for feedback on the draft report. We received 4 submissions that the authors gave us permission to publish.
Download 2024 submissions
- Australian Marine Conservation Society submission (PDF 298 KB)
- Commonwealth Fisheries Association submission (PDF 318 KB)
- CSIRO submission (PDF 447 KB)
- Marine Social Sciences Network Australia submission (PDF 471 KB)
Submissions may not meet Australian Government accessibility guidelines as they were not prepared by the department.
Steering committee
The review was overseen by a steering committee. We chaired the steering committee which included senior officials from:
- ABARES
- the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
- the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
For further information about the 2023 review of the Harvest Strategy Policy and Bycatch Policy please email us at fisheries.policies@aff.gov.au.