{"id":"F2021L00457","name":"Fisheries Management (E-monitoring Small Pelagic Fishery) Direction 2021","slug":"fisheries-management-e-monitoring-small-pelagic-fishery-direction-2021","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":440812,"registerId":"F2021L00457-fast-fetch-1775956311892","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Fisheries Management (E-monitoring Small Pelagic Fishery) Direction 2021","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 20.2\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nFisheries Management (E-monitoring Small Pelagic Fishery) Direction 2021\n\n \n\nI, WEZ NORRIS, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, as delegate under Delegation No. 2 of 2016 made on 14 November 2016 from the AFMA Commission, make the following Direction pursuant to s40A(1) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991.\n\nDated   16 April 2021\n\nWez Norris\n\nChief Executive Officer, Australian Fisheries Management Authority\n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1. Name\n\n2. Commencement\n\n3. Authority\n\n4. Definitions\n\n5. Requirement to install and operate an e-monitoring system\n\n6. Requirement to monitor function of an e-monitoring system, arrange repair and provide e-monitoring data\n\n7. Requirement to provide certain information to AFMA\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nFisheries Management (E-monitoring Small Pelagic Fishery) Direction 2020\n\n \n\n1. Name\n\n\n  This instrument is the Fisheries Management (E-monitoring Small Pelagic Fishery) Direction 2021.\n\n2.      Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this instrument This Instrument commences on 1 May 2021.\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.\n\n3.      Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under s40A(1) of the Act.\n\n4.      Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in section 4 of the Act, and section 3 of the Small Pelagic Fishery Management Plan 2009 including the following:\n\n(a)      boat;\n\n(b)     e-monitoring;\n\n(c)      fishing concession;\n\n(d)     holder;\n\n(e)      fish.\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Fisheries Management Act 1991.\n\nContractor means the party contracted as AFMA’s agents to provide e-monitoring systems and associated services.\n\nData drive means a component of an e-monitoring system that can store e-monitoring data and can be removed by the operator of the e-monitoring system but does not include removable Random Access Memory.\n\nE-monitoring system means e-monitoring equipment and peripheral equipment approved by AFMA, that can:\n\na)      record, store and transmit details of a boat’s position and activity; and\n\nb)      record, store and transmit details of the e-monitoring system’s status; and\n\nc)      record (including visually) and store all fishing events. \n\nFishing event means the setting of a net, hauling of a net, pumping of catch and handling of bycatch.\n\n5.      Requirement to install and operate an e-monitoring system\n\n(1)    A concession holder (or person acting on behalf of the concession holder) fishing in the midwater trawl sector of the Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF) must have an e-monitoring system installed and operating on a nominated boat that:\n\n(a) is supplied to the person and installed by AFMA or the Contractor; or\n\n(b)    complies with the standards and requirements specified in the certificate granting the statutory fishing right.\n\n(2)    For the purpose of s40A(3) of the Act, the obligation prescribed in this clause must be complied with no later than 3 months from the date of this direction commencing or on the day the e-monitoring system is first installed within this period.\n\n(3)     Subject to clause 5(4), a concession holder (or person acting on behalf of a concession holder) must take all reasonable steps to ensure an installed e-monitoring system is operational at all times and capable of recording all fishing events.\n\nNote: Clause 6(2) imposes certain obligations on a person subject to the requirement to arrange repair of an e-monitoring system if the e-monitoring system ceases to function correctly.\n\n(4)    An installed e-monitoring system may be powered off if:\n\n(a) the nominated boat is in port; and\n\n(b) the nominated boat has an operational Vessel Monitoring System installed.\n\n \n\n6.      Requirement to monitor function of an e-monitoring system, arrange repair and provide e-monitoring data\n\n (1) A concession holder (or person acting on behalf of a concession holder) must take all reasonable steps to maintain their e-monitoring system in good working order by:\n\n (a) undertaking system function tests:\n\n (i) immediately after a data drive exchange;\n\n (ii) prior to starting a new trip;\n\n (iii) when there is a reasonable suspicion of issues or fault with the system; and\n\n (iv) after any periods of inactivity greater than 14 days.\n\n (b) reporting suspected issues with the e-monitoring system to AFMA, or the Contractor, as soon as practicable;\n\n (c) cleaning camera lenses to ensure that a clear field of view is maintained at all times; and\n\n (d) ensuring camera views of fishing events remain unobstructed and well-lit.\n\n (2) If the e-monitoring system stops operating, the concession holder (or person acting on behalf of a concession holder) must:\n\n (a) contact AFMA or the Contractor as soon as practicable after the concession holder (or person acting on behalf of the concession holder) becomes aware that the e-monitoring system has stopped operating to organise repairs of the e-monitoring system; and\n\n (b) take all reasonable steps to make the boat available at the earliest time agreed to with AFMA or the Contractor.\n\n (3) A concession holder (or person acting on behalf of a concession holder) must, in accordance with the requirements in clause 6(4), exchange the e-monitoring system’s data drive and return it to AFMA when:\n\n (a) the data drive’s capacity is reached; or \n\n (b) the data drive has failed a system test and a replacement data drive has been issued; or\n\n (c) instructed by AFMA or the Contractor.\n\n  whichever occurs first.\n\n (4) A concession holder (or person acting on behalf of a concession holder) must exchange the e-monitoring system’s data drive and return it to AFMA by:\n\n (a) removing the data drive and packaging the drive in a preaddressed, prepaid envelope; and\n\n (b) posting the data drive within 24 hours of returning to Port.\n\n (5) A concession holder (or person acting on behalf of a concession holder) must install a new or replacement data drive by following the instructions issued by AFMA, the Contractor, or the manufacturer of the e-monitoring system.\n\n (6) For the purpose of s40A(3) of the Act, the obligations prescribed in clause 6 commence on the day the e-monitoring system is first installed.\n\n7.      Requirement to provide certain information to AFMA\n\n (1) AFMA may require a concession holder (or person acting on behalf of a concession holder) to give a statement to AFMA setting out:\n\n (a) the facts leading to any loss, theft or damage to the e-monitoring system or e-monitoring data;\n\n (b) the time, date and location where the person posted or handed over the e-monitoring system or data drive to another person (including a postal worker or courier);\n\n (c) the names and addresses of any person employed or engaged by the person who had any interactions with the e-monitoring system (whether while operating, off or in sleep or idle mode) or data drive;\n\n (d) the reasons why the e-monitoring system was not operational at a given time; or\n\n (e) any other matter relating to the circumstances, time, place, or manner of installation, carriage, use, handling, maintenance or monitoring of use of the e-monitoring system or data drive.\n\n (2) A concession holder (or person acting on behalf of a concession holder) must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a request to give a statement requested under clause 7(1) to AFMA within a reasonable time period.\n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nFisheries Management (E-monitoring Small Pelagic Fishery) Direction 2020\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument expressly repeals the Fisheries Management (E-monitoring Small Pelagic Fishery) Direction 2020 (Schedule 1), so it replaces the earlier direction. The 2021 Direction maintains mandatory e‑monitoring obligations for midwater trawl concession holders, but this instrument alone does not record the substantive differences from the 2020 Direction, so whether the practical scope of obligations changed cannot be determined from this text alone."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple operational duties for operators (installation, continuous operation, system tests, camera maintenance, data‑drive exchange and posting) — clauses 5 and 6","Logistical compliance burden on concession holders (packaging/posting drives within 24 hours; making vessel available for repairs) — clauses 6(2), 6(4)","Technical integration and approval dependency (equipment must be supplied/installed by AFMA or Contractor or meet AFMA standards) — clause 5(1)","Data custody and transfer mechanics (removable 'data drive' definition and handling rules) — definition of Data drive and clause 6(3)–(5)","Timing and phased commencement obligations (install within 3 months; some obligations commence on first install) — clause 5(2) and 6(6)","AFMA discretion to request detailed statements and information, with failure to comply forbidden without reasonable excuse — clause 7(1)–(2)","Interplay with other vessel systems (permitted to power off only in port if VMS operational) — clause 5(4)","Implementation risk from dependence on Contractor and manufacturer instructions for repairs, testing and replacements — clauses 4 (definitions) and 6"],"plain_english_summary":"This Direction requires concession holders in the midwater trawl sector of the Small Pelagic Fishery to have AFMA‑approved e‑monitoring systems fitted and kept operational on nominated boats, and to perform routine checks, report faults, exchange data drives and return recorded data. AFMA or its Contractor supplies or approves equipment and may require written statements about loss, theft, damage or periods when equipment was non‑operational. The measure matters because concession holders carry the operational and logistical compliance costs while AFMA retains discretion over standards and information requests."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument maintains the same scope as its predecessor. It continues the existing e-monitoring regime for the Small Pelagic Fishery midwater trawl sector without expanding to new fishery sectors or adding significant new compliance burdens beyond the 2020 Direction it replaces."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument: 7 substantive clauses plus Schedule 1 (single repeal)","Minimal defined terms: Only 4 new definitions in clause 4 (Act, Contractor, Data drive, E-monitoring system, Fishing event), with others incorporated by reference from parent Act and Management Plan","Simple conditional structure: Single exception in clause 5(4) for powering off in port, otherwise straightforward obligations","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing: Only references to s40A(1) and s40A(3) of the Act, and clause 6(2) cross-reference within the instrument","Clear operational requirements: Prescriptive but not convoluted — specific timeframes (24 hours, 14 days, 3 months) and concrete actions (cleaning lenses, posting drives)","Single repeal at Schedule 1: Straightforward sunset of previous year's instrument"],"plain_english_summary":"This Direction requires vessels in the Small Pelagic Fishery’s midwater trawl sector to carry and maintain approved electronic monitoring (CCTV and tracking) that records fishing activity, with rules for operation, testing, data handling, and reporting faults. It applies to concession holders and their operators.\n\nIt continues AFMA’s move from human observers to e-monitoring to improve catch reporting, bycatch oversight, and compliance with sustainability obligations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-e-monitoring-small-pelagic-fishery-direction-2021","history":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-e-monitoring-small-pelagic-fishery-direction-2021/history","analysis":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-e-monitoring-small-pelagic-fishery-direction-2021/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-e-monitoring-small-pelagic-fishery-direction-2021/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-e-monitoring-small-pelagic-fishery-direction-2021/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-e-monitoring-small-pelagic-fishery-direction-2021/documents"}}