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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Agriculture and land
  3. Fisheries
  4. Fisheries and the environment
  5. Fisheries Bycatch
  6. Seabird bycatch in Australian fisheries

Sidebar first - Fisheries

  • 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

Bycatch - seabirds

To address key threats to seabirds from fishing activities in Australia, the Australian Government has voluntarily adopted the:

  • United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (IPOA-Seabirds). The IPOA–Seabirds is a voluntary instrument within the framework of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and sets out principles and international standards of behaviour for responsible fishing practices.
  • Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is responsible for the national Threat Abatement Plan for the Incidental Catch (or Bycatch) of Seabirds during Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations. This plan coordinates national action to moderate the impact of longline fishing activities on seabirds in Australian waters. It applies to all fisheries under Australian Commonwealth jurisdiction.

The Australian Government has developed a National Plan of Action for minimising the incidental catch of seabirds in Australian capture fisheries (NPOA–Seabirds). NPOA–Seabirds is a voluntary measure that provides a comprehensive and nationally-consistent approach to reducing the impact of fishing on seabirds. It draws together existing regulatory and voluntary management arrangements into one document and provides additional guidance for future management decisions around seabird mitigation measures.

NPOA-Seabirds provides clear guidance on best practice mitigation, monitoring and reporting of seabird interactions. It reduces duplication of management arrangements, targets responses to areas identified as having the strongest need, and helps fisheries managers and industry to apply more uniform, efficient and cost-effective seabird bycatch management.  

Download

National Plan of Action - Seabirds (PDF 648 KB)
National Plan of Action - Seabirds (DOCX 784 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

National Reporting

Download

NPOA-Seabirds jurisdiction report 2020 (PDF 501 KB)
NPOA-Seabirds jurisdiction report 2020 (DOCX 784 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

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Page last updated: 14 April 2023

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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