Commercial Garfish closure
Temporary closures to commercial Southern Garfish fishing will take place in Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent for separate 20-day periods between 12 May and 24 June 2012. Find out more.

Interim Snapper limit announced
A commercial daily trip limit for Snapper has been introduced as an interim measure to protect local stocks. The change is effective 1 January to 31 June 2012 and will contain commercial fishers to an 800 kg daily commercial trip limit within gulf waters. View map of the restricted areas (pdf 254.8 KB) and answers to frequently asked questions.

Interim Snapper Commercial Daily Trip Limits

Frequently asked questions

Why are these new measures being implemented for Snapper?

PIRSA is currently reviewing the long-term management arrangements for the Snapper fishery with an industry working group. A paper with options for future management arrangements was released for public comment in November 2011 until 31 January 2012.

PIRSA has implemented interim management measures to address the impact of high levels of commercial fishing activities on Snapper, following the end of the closure on 30 November 2011. An interim measure is considered necessary to protect Snapper stocks, as catches have continued to increase during the period when breeding aggregations are occurring, placing further pressure on the stocks.

A revised Section 79 notice has been introduced in response to further concerns raised by the Marine Fishers Association (MFA) about restrictions on commercial operators who undertake multiple-day fishing trips.

The fishing industry has been proactive in addressing this issue and has worked closely with PIRSA to develop the interim measures.

What are commercial fishers required to do?

No more than 800 kg of Snapper within any one day may be taken or possessed within the Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent, effective 1 January to 30 June 2012.

In addition, commercial licence holders in the Marine Scalefish Fisheries and the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery targeting Snapper outside the Gulfs and landing more than 800 kg of Snapper must prior report their activities to PIRSA FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522, at least one hour prior to fishing.

What is a day?

“In any one day” means during the period commencing at midday and ending at midday the following day. This definition only applies to the interim Snapper arrangement for commercial fishers and does not affect other time periods commercial fishers are required to comply with.

Under what legislation has this change be introduced as an interim measure?

PIRSA has authority to introduce these interim measures under Section 79 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007, which applies to ‘Temporary prohibition of certain fishing activities’.

How will the interim measures be enforced?

Fisheries Officers will closely monitor commercial landings. Inspections of commercial fishers will involve an initial visual inspection of the total volume of fish bins holding Snapper. Fisheries Officers will use their discretion and may weigh all Snapper on board or in the licence holder’s possession. If the total Snapper catch exceeds the daily allowable catch limit of 800 kilograms, Fisheries Officers will conduct an investigation to determine if there has been a breach of the section 79 order, which may result in a fine or prosecution. This operational inspection procedure allows for a quick assessment and less disruption to commercial operations while also ensuring the daily limits are complied with.

What penalty applies to a breach of a Section 79 order?

The penalties for Section 79 are as follows:

Maximum penalty:

a) For a first offence - $5 000

b) For a second offence - $10 000

c) For a third or subsequent offence - $20 000
This offence is also expiable and attracts an expiation fee of $315.

What area does the 800kg apply to?

The daily 800kg limits applies in both the Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent. A map is available on the PIRSA website. Specifically, these arrangements apply to the waters contained within the gulfs, points from which closing lines are drawn:

• Cape Catastrophe to Cape Spencer (Spencer Gulf); and
• Cape Jervis to Troubridge Point (Gulf St Vincent).

In addition fishers operating under a licence in the Marine Scalefish Fishery, Restricted Marine Scalefish Fishery and Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery, who are fishing outside the gulfs need to make a prior to fishing report to FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522.

Who do the commercial daily trip limits apply to?

The daily trip limits apply to all commercial fishers with access to take Snapper in Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent (i.e. Marine Scalefish Fishery, Restricted Marine Scalefish Fishery and Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery licence holders).

Who has to prior report and when?

Fishers who hold a Marine Scalefish Fishery, Restricted Marine Scalefish Fishery and Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery licence who intend to fish for Snapper in waters outside the gulfs must prior report their activities to FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522, at least one hour prior to leaving port. If a fisher fails to prior report and takes or has possession of more than 800 kg of Snapper during a trip outside the gulfs, they may be in breach of the S79 order.

This requirement applies to commercial fishers that have access to fish for Snapper within the gulfs and will assist compliance officers in determining where fishers have taken their catch and whether the 800 kg trip limit applies.

From 27 January 2012, commercial operators fishing for Snapper inside of Spencer Gulf or Gulf St Vincent, for more than one day and less than three days consecutively, must comply with the following prior report requirements to FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522:

1. At least one hour prior to fishing, to notify of the intent to undertake a multi-day trip, and the trip duration.
2. During each day at sea, at least 1 hour prior to midday, to notify of the intent to stay at sea for an additional day, and to notify of the total amount of Snapper onboard the vessel that day.
3. At least one hour prior to returning to port, nominating the point of landing and the total amount caught for the trip.

These requirements apply to all Marine Scalefish Fishery, Restricted Marine Scalefish Fishery and Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery licence holders undertaking multi-day fishing trips.

Can commercial fishers conduct multiple trips in one day?

Commercial fishers are limited to 800 kg of Snapper in total for each day between midday and midday the next day. Commercial fishers are not permitted to conduct multiple trips in gulf waters if they land more than 800 kg during a day.

Can commercial fishers conduct multi-day trips?

Commercial fishers within the gulfs may conduct trips up to three days duration, only if the fisher has prior reported their trip duration before leaving port. In addition, fishers must report each day at sea at least one hour prior to midday to notify FISHWATCH of the total amount of fish onboard, and that they do not take any more than 800kg in any one day.

Multi-day trips targeting Snapper are still permitted outside the gulfs if licence holders prior report to FISWATCH on 1800 065 522.

Do the interim measures affect the review of longer-term management arrangement for Snapper?

No. All options presented in the Management Options for Snapper in South Australia paper are still being considered. All comments on the options paper will be considered by the Snapper Working Group, PIRSA and the Minister in making recommendations and decisions about the longer-term management arrangements for Snapper.