- Commonwealth Trawl Sector Boat Statutory Fishing Rights (boat SFRs).
- We understand that boat SFR owners would prefer to know if their tenders have been accepted before the start of the season on 1 May 2023 and we will try to meet this timing.
- Funding for this program is only available in the 2022-23 financial year and successful tenderers will need to surrender their boat SFR by 30 June 2023 to ensure payments can be made.
- We are not able to provide an estimated price that will be accepted because this will depend on tenders received. The department will seek to achieve the best value for money outcome, meaning lower prices are more likely to be successful.
- The value of a boat SFR to concession holders will differ based on individual circumstances. The tender will allow boat SFR owners to nominate the price they are willing to accept to surrender their boat SFR and the department will undertake a value for money assessment of all tendered prices. The department will not be providing any guidance on pricing as part of this process.
- The price accepted will be based on the tenders received and whether the tendered prices represent value for money.
- The department may choose to negotiate, however a negotiation process is not guaranteed, so do not rely on this when submitting your price.
- The department will not publish the tendered prices.
- Additional tender rounds will only be conducted if required and at the discretion of the department. As additional tender rounds are not guaranteed, do not rely on this when submitting your price.
- The department may accept tenders until the available funding is exhausted or a tendered price is no longer considered value for money.
- Even if the total of all tendered prices is within the available funding, price will still be subject to a value for money assessment.
- No, the objective of the tender is to support as many boat SFR owners that want to exit the fishery or restructure to do so, while ensuring prices paid represent value for money for the government.
- Yes, boat SFRs are fully transferrable.
- The department is not targeting specific boat SFRs as they are fully transferrable. Even if the boat SFR is latent, removing it will still result in a permanent reduction in the size of the fishery as it will no longer be available to be transferred to another operator.
- The assessment criteria will be confirmed in the tender documentation. Price will be the key consideration in determining value for money, and the tender documentation will confirm whether the department may choose to consider other factors if multiple tendered prices are the same.
- No. The department is not targeting specific boat SFRs as they are fully transferrable.
- The government has committed to provide $20 million in 2022-23 to purchase the surrender of boat SFRs in the South East Trawl Fishery.
- Decisions on additional funding are a matter for government. There may not be another opportunity to participate in a buyback process in the future.
- No. This funding is only available to purchase the surrender of boat SFRs.
- No decision has been made by the NSW or Federal governments on any change to the future management of the NSW Ocean Trawl fishery.
- Licensing arrangements for NSW permits should be discussed with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
- The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has indicated reduced total allowable catch limits and fishing closures will likely need to be in place long-term to allow for recovery of at-risk species and prevent further declines.
- AFMA has committed to continuing to work with industry on future management arrangements for the fishery, including trials of electronic monitoring and data needs to support assessments.