{"id":"F2008B00751","name":"Declaration of adjacent coastal area of Papua New Guinea","slug":"declaration-of-adjacent-coastal-area-of-papua-new-guinea","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":72060,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008B00751-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Declaration of adjacent coastal area of Papua New Guinea","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 20.2\ntitle: Torres Strait Fishers Act 1984\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nTorres Strait Fisheries Act 1984\n\n \n\nADJACENT COASTAL AREA OF papua new   guinea\n\n \n\n \n\ni, john charles kerin, the Minister of State for Primary Industry, pursuant to paragraph (3) (b) of section 3 of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984, hereby declare the area described in the Schedule to be the adjacent coastal area of Papua New Guinea.\n\n \n\n______________________\n\n \n\nSCHEDULE\n\nThe area of Papua New Guinea adjacent to the Protected Zone and to the north of the line described in Annex 5 to the Torres Strait Treaty that is –\n\n (a) to the south of the parallel of Latitude 9° South;\n\n (b) to the west of the meridian of Longitude 143°30' East.\n\n \n\nDated this twenty-first day of March 1985.\n\n \n\nJOHN KERIN\n\nMinister of State for Primary Industry\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument declares a geographic area to be the \"adjacent coastal area of Papua New Guinea\" under the statutory power cited. The text contains no indication that it alters an earlier declaration or that it departs from an original statutory purpose; it performs the single definitional action contemplated by the cited power (paragraph (3)(b) of section 3 of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984)."},"complexity_factors":["Short, narrowly focused instrument that performs a single definitional function","Reference to an external text (Annex 5 to the Torres Strait Treaty) creates a need for cross-referencing and external interpretation","Use of geographic coordinates which require geospatial interpretation for practical enforcement","Exercise of ministerial statutory power without stated procedural detail introduces administrative discretion considerations","Legal effect depends on how other provisions of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 (and related instruments) use the defined term"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument is a ministerial declaration that defines the \"adjacent coastal area of Papua New Guinea\" for the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 by reference to the Treaty line in Annex 5 and the coordinates south of 9°S and west of 143°30′E. By fixing that geographic label, it determines where the Act’s rules and obligations apply — affecting fishers, vessels and agencies whose rights or duties depend on whether activities occur inside that area."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward geographical declaration made under existing delegated powers in the parent Act. It implements the original intent of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984, which was to give effect to the Torres Strait Treaty through subsidiary instruments like this. The scope remains tightly confined to defining a specific maritime zone."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (under 300 words)","No defined terms section - relies entirely on external references (Torres Strait Treaty, Protected Zone, Annex 5)","Simple conditional logic: just two geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude) and two relational descriptors (south of, west of)","Single operative provision with no exceptions or sub-exceptions","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent Act and the Treaty"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a **ministerial declaration** made under the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984. It defines a specific area of ocean off Papua New Guinea's coast that is treated as 'adjacent coastal area' for the purposes of that Act.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Sets out the exact geographical boundaries of waters near Papua New Guinea that fall under special fishing arrangements between Australia and Papua New Guinea\n- The area is: south of 9° South latitude, west of 143°30' East longitude, adjacent to the 'Protected Zone' (a specially managed area in the Torres Strait), and north of a line described in the Torres Strait Treaty\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Commercial fishers operating in Torres Strait waters\n- Papua New Guinean and Australian authorities managing cross-border fisheries\n- Traditional inhabitants (Torres Strait Islanders and coastal Papua New Guineans) who fish in these waters\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe Torres Strait is shared between Australia and Papua New Guinea. This declaration helps determine which country's laws apply to fishing activities in specific areas, and ensures the **Torres Strait Treaty** (an international agreement between the two nations) is properly implemented. Without clear boundaries, there would be confusion about licensing, enforcement, and traditional fishing rights."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/declaration-of-adjacent-coastal-area-of-papua-new-guinea","history":"/api/acts/declaration-of-adjacent-coastal-area-of-papua-new-guinea/history","analysis":"/api/acts/declaration-of-adjacent-coastal-area-of-papua-new-guinea/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/declaration-of-adjacent-coastal-area-of-papua-new-guinea/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/declaration-of-adjacent-coastal-area-of-papua-new-guinea/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/declaration-of-adjacent-coastal-area-of-papua-new-guinea/documents"}}