The Commission convened for its 99th meeting in Brisbane on 12 and 13 August 2025.
Stakeholder Engagement
The Commission considered written updates from GABIA, Northern Prawn Fishing Industry (NPFI), the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Industry Association and the Scallop Fisherman's Association of Tasmania. The Commission continues to place a high value on these updates to provide operational context to its deliberations.
Electronic Monitoring (EM) in the Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS)
The Commission considered and agreed to AFMA Management's recommendation to implement EM in the CTS as of 1 July 2026. The Commission discussed the outcomes of the 2024/25 EM trial, input from the South East Trawl Fishery Industry Association (SETFIA), the South East Management Advisory Committee (SEMAC) and Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Resource Assessment Group (SESSFRAG), the objectives of implementation and experiences in other fisheries with existing EM programs, especially in relation to increased accuracy of logbook reporting of ETPs.
The Commission noted support for the recommendation from SETFIA, SEMAC and SESSFRAG.
Initially, the EM program will focus on verifying and improving logbook reporting of Endangered, Threatened and Protected species, but is expected to expand to improve estimates of discarded catch and contribute to collection of additional data. The Commission also noted that the trial demonstrated the ability for orange roughy targeting to avoid the catch of dogfish, as an example of regulatory improvement for the fishery.
The Commission offered its appreciation to SETFIA, SESSFRAG and the CSIRO for their support in developing an industry-based data program to support EM by collecting biological information that EM is unable to.
AFMA remains committed to minimising the cost of the EM and supplementary data collection programs and using them to drive greater flexibility for industry.
EM in the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF)
The Commission considered AFMA Management's recommendation to implement EM in the NPF as of 1 July 2026. The Commission discussed:
- the outcomes of the 2024 EM trial;
- input from NPFI, the NPF Resource Assessment Group (NPFRAG) and the NPF Management Advisory Committee (NORMAC);
- the objectives of implementation; and
- experiences in other fisheries with existing EM programs, especially in relation to increased accuracy of logbook reporting of ETPs.
While noting that NPFRAG, NORMAC and NPFI did not support the AFMA Management recommendation at this time, the Commission considered there was strong rationale and justification for adoption of EM in the NPF.
The Commission agreed to implement EM in the NPF as of 31 March 2027.
In determining 31 March 2027 as the implementation date, the Commission acknowledged that there are some data currently collected by AFMA observers that cannot be collected by EM. The Commission did not currently have sufficient clarity on which of those data are critical to fisheries management decision making, and how that data could continue to be collected in a cost-effective manner.
The Commission directed NPFRAG to conduct a robust assessment of what data is essential to meet management needs that is collected by AFMA observers, quantify the way it is used in AFMA management, and develop cost effective options for that data to be collected, including through adaptions to EM footage review rates. The Commission directed that NPFRAG report back to the Commission on this work by July 2026.
Noting that funding support for EM installation ceases on 30 June 2026, the Commission encouraged NPF operators to work with AFMA to source and install EM hardware before that time. Operators that do not have EM installed by 30 June 2026 will be required to self-fund purchase and installation in time to meet the 31 March 2027 implementation deadline.
Management Arrangements in the NPF
The Commission noted the persistent negative economic pressures, particularly around prawn price, that the fishery is experiencing. However, the Commission also noted that NORMAC had not provided any advice on future management and the markedly different views within the industry as to the outlook for the fishery from a financial perspective and the need for management intervention to engineer a fleet response.
The Commission considered the differing views within industry for implementation of an urgent reduction in the value of gear SFRs. While the Commission noted that a reduction in the number of vessels operating in the NPF would likely support industry viability and therefore assist in pursuing AFMA's economic objective and the Harvest Strategy Policy, the Commission agreed that there was insufficient information to make a definitive decision at this time.
The Commission identified several specific uncertainties and information gaps and agreed to write to NORMAC, NPFRAG and NPFI seeking additional advice and perspective to inform further consideration of the matter.
The Commission further discussed this issue when it met out of session on 17 September 2025 (see below), and noted that AFMA Management had progressed the issue, mainly in consultation with CSIRO. The Commission looks forward to receiving additional analysis to support decision making at its 100th meeting in November 2025.
Merger of MACs and RAGs
The Commission considered options for consultative forms related to the Great Australian Bight (GAB) trawl fishery. Following consultation, AFMA Management recommended the merger of GABRAG and the South East RAG, and GABMAC and the South East MAC. The Commission recalled its previous discussion with representatives of the GAB Industry Association, where it was clear that industry did not support the proposed merger. However, advice from AFMA Management about the level of administrative work required to service GABRAG and GABMAC as separate bodies was significant, and disproportionate to the size of the fishery with less than 5 vessels operating.
The Commission was satisfied that arrangements could be made to address the key GABIA concerns through the merger, and that the decreased administration would allow AFMA to focus on strategic priorities such as the government priority on productivity and regulatory improvement. Accordingly, the Commission agreed to the proposed merger and directed the CEO to explain the rationale for the decision to GABIA.
National Compliance and Enforcement Policy (NCEP)
The Commission welcomed the draft biennial review of the NCEP. The Commission noted that while the overall tone and approach of the NCEP is consistent with existing practice, the document has been substantially revised, streamlined and improved to support regulatory posture and operational planning and implementation. The Commission approved the NCEP.
Out-of-session discussion
The Commission met virtually on 17 September 2025. In addition to further discussion about management arrangements for the NPF as described above, the Commission considered:
AFMA's Climate Risk Framework (CRF)
The Commission welcomed the draft CRF and expressed strong appreciation for the level of work that has been conducted over the past three years to develop and trial it. In particular, the Commission expressed its thanks to the AFMA Management Team, the CRF Working Group and to all RAGs that have been involved in the trial.
The Commission approved the Framework and the Trial Implementation Report. The Commission directed AFMA Management, RAGs and MACs to commence roll-out of the CRF, including through a detailed implementation plan to be presented at the Commission's November meeting.
Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) overcatch and undercatch provisions
The Commission reviewed the history of over and undercatch management in the SBT fishery, noting the changes that were made during the COVID-19 pandemic to maximise the amount of Australia's overall catch limit that could be carried from one year to the next in accordance with the rules adopted by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). The Commission noted that there is a discussion occurring within industry as to whether those revised arrangements remain fit-for-purpose given operational changes and TAC increases since that time. The Commission will determine over and undercatch provisions at its November meeting (as per usual following the CCSBT meeting in October) and will consider this issue further at that time.
Next meeting
The Commission agreed that its next meeting would be held in Canberra on 11 and 12 November 2025.
Helen Kroger
Chair
