Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think Senator Wright for her question. I am aware of the Humane Society International and four other conservation groups which are calling for immediate cessation of gillnets in the southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery in Commonwealth waters. Australia has some of the best managed fisheries in the world. The Gillard government is committed to ensuring the long-term protection of biodiversity in the marine environment. Interaction with which protected marine species in all fishery sectors are taken seriously by this government. The Australian Fisheries and Management Authority, AFMA, has initiated new arrangements to better protect and monitor Australian sea lions, dolphins, seabirds and nontargeted shark species.

Turning specifically to sea lions, AFMA implemented the Australian Sea Lion Management Strategy on 1 July 2010 to reduce the risk of and improve the level of information about sea lion interaction in the gillnet hook and trap fishery. Advice on the implementation of the strategy is provided by a working group which comprises marine mammal experts and environment and fishing industry representatives. The strategy was strengthened in May 2011 to provide enhanced protection for sea lions and other threatened endangered and protected species. The strategy now includes significant area closures around each of the 48 colonies in South Australia totalling 18,500 square kilometres, a requirement that all boats fishing within the sea lion area are always independently monitored through either a camera system or an on-board scientific observer, regular reviews to assess the effectiveness of the strategy and closure of large areas of the fishery if predetermined levels of female sea lion mortalities are reached. (Time expired)