{"id":"F2025L01179","name":"Fisheries Management (Sedentary Organisms) Proclamation 2025","slug":"fisheries-management-sedentary-organisms-proclamation-2025","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442982,"registerId":"F2025L01179-fast-fetch-1775957899691","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Fisheries Management (Sedentary Organisms) Proclamation 2025","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nFisheries Management (Sedentary Organisms) Proclamation 2025\n\nI, the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Proclamation.\n\nSigned and Sealed with the\n\nGreat Seal of Australia on\n\n18 September 2025\n\nSam Mostyn AC\n\nGovernor‑General\n\nBy Her Excellency’s Command\n\nJulie Collins\n\nMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Schedules\n\n5 Definitions\n\n6 Sedentary organisms to which the Act applies—animals\n\n7 Sedentary organisms to which the Act applies—plants\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nFisheries Management (Sedentary Organisms) Proclamation 2015\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Fisheries Management (Sedentary Organisms) Proclamation 2025.\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 The day after this instrument is registered. 26 September 2025\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made.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 the Fisheries Management Act 1991.\n\n4  Schedules\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\n5  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Fisheries Management Act 1991.\n\n6  Sedentary organisms to which the Act applies—animals\n\n (1) For the purposes of subsection 12(1) of the Act, an organism is a sedentary organism to which the Act applies if the organism:\n\n (a) belongs to a phylum specified in column 1 of an item of the following table; and\n\n (b) if one or more sub‑categories of the phylum is specified in column 2 of that item—belongs to one of the specified sub‑categories; and\n\n (c) if a life stage is specified in column 3 of that item for the phylum or the sub‑category to which the phylum belongs—is in the specified life stage.\n\n \n\n- Sedentary organisms—animals\n- Item Column 1Phylum Column 2Sub‑category Column 3Life stage\n- 1 Porifera (sponges) Adult\n- 2 Cnidaria (a) Any of the following orders of Class Hydrozoa:(i) Anthothecata (hydroids) (other than Family Margelopsidae);(ii) Leptothecata (hydroids);(iii) Actinulida (hydroids);(b) Order Stauromedusae (stalked jellyfish) of Class Staurozoa;(c) Class Anthozoa (corals and anemones) (a) For the sub‑categories specified in paragraph (a) of column 2—polyp;(b) For the sub‑category specified in paragraph (c) of column 2—adult\n- 3 Bryozoa (bryozoans) Adult\n- 4 Kamptozoa (nodding heads) Adult\n- 5 Brachiopoda (brachiopods) Adult\n- 6 Platyhelminthes (a) Subphylum Catenulida;(b) Subphylum Rhabditophora (other than Superclass Neodermata);(c) Order Tricladia of Subphylum Rhabditophora;(d) Order Polycladida of Subphylum Rhabditophora For the sub‑categories specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (d) of column 2—adult\n- 7 Nemertea (ribbon worms) (other than Suborder Pelagica) Adult\n- 8 Xenacoelomorpha (flattened worms) Order Acoela Adult\n- 9 Priapulida (penis worms) Adult\n- 10 Annelida (a) Class Polychaeta (segmented marine worms) (other than Family Tomopteridae and Family Alciopidae);(b) Subclass Oligochaeta (segmented marine worms) of Class Clitellata;(c) Order Sipuncula (peanut worms) For the sub‑category specified in paragraph (a) of column 2—benthic adult\n- 11 Mollusca (a) Class Polyplacophora (chitons);(b) Class Solenogastres (solenogasters);(c) Class Scaphopoda (tusk shells);(d) Any of the following subclasses of Class Gastropoda:(i) Patellogastropoda (limpets);(ii) Neomphalina (scaly‑foot gastropods);(iii) Cocculiniformia (no common name);(iv) Vetigastropoda (slit snails);(v) Neritimorpha (nerites);(vi) Caenogastropoda (marine snails) (other than Superfamily Pterotracheoidea and Family Janthinidae);(e) Subclass Heterobranchia;(f) Class Bivalvia (bivalves) (other than Family Pectinidae and Family Teredinidae) Subclass Pteriomorphia (file shells) Order Limida Family Limidae Adult\n- 12 Arthropoda (a) Infraclass Cirripedia (barnacles) (other than Superfamily Coronuloidea and Family Lepadidae) of Class Maxillopoda of Subphylum Crustacea;(b) Any of the following infraorders of Order Decapoda of Class Malacostraca of Subphylum Crustacea:(i) Axiidea (slow prawns);(ii) Gebiidea (slow prawns);(c) Any of the following superfamilies of Infraorder Anomura of Order Decapoda of Class Malacostraca of Subphylum Crustacea:(i) Hippoidea (mole crabs);(ii) Lithodoidea (king crabs);(iii) Lomisoidea (stone crabs);(iv) Paguroidea (hermit crabs);(d) Infraorder Brachyura (true crabs) (other than Family Matutidae, Family Portunidae, Family Hymenosomatidae, Family Polybiidae and Family Plagusiidae) of Order Decapoda of Class Malacostraca of Subphylum Crustacea For the sub‑categories specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of column 2—adult\n- 13 Echinodermata (a) Family Hyocrinidae (stalked crinoids) of Order Hyocrinida of Class Echinodermata;(b) Order Isocrinida (stalked crinoids) of Class Echinodermata;(c) Class Echinoidea (sea urchins);(d) Class Ophiuroidea (brittle stars and basket stars);(e) Class Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers) (other than Family Pelagothuriidae and Family Psychropotidae);(f) Class Asteroidea (sea stars) For the sub‑categories specified in paragraph (c), (d), (e) or (f) of column 2—adult\n- 14 Hemichordata (a) Class Enteropneusta (acorn worms);(b) Class Pterobranchia (pterobranchs) Adult\n- 15 Chordata Class Ascidiacea (sea squirts) of Subphylum Tunicata\n- 16 Foraminifera (forams) (other than Suborder Globigerinina) Adult\n\n\nSpecial requirement for sea squirts\n\n (2) However, an organism covered by item 15 of the table in subsection (1) is only a sedentary organism to which the Act applies if the organism is attached to substrate.\n\n7  Sedentary organisms to which the Act applies—plants\n\n  For the purposes of subsection 12(1) of the Act, an organism is a sedentary organism to which the Act applies if the organism belongs to:\n\n (a) a division specified in column 1 of an item of the following table; and\n\n (b) if one or more sub‑categories of the division is specified in column 2 of that item—one of the specified sub‑categories.\n\n \n\n- Sedentary organisms—plants\n- Item Column 1Division Column 2Sub‑category\n- 1 Rhodophyta (red algae)\n- 2 Heterokontophyta Class Phaeophyceae (brown algae)\n- 3 Chlorophyta Class Ulvophyceae (green algae)\n- 4 Angiospermae Any of the following families of Order Alismatales of Class Monocotyledon:(a) Hydrocharitaceae (sea grass);(b) Posidoniaceae (sea grass);(c) Zosteraceae (sea grass);(d) Cymodoceaceae (sea grass)\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\n \n\nFisheries Management (Sedentary Organisms) Proclamation 2015\n\n1  The whole of the Proclamation\n\nRepeal the Proclamation.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original purpose: updating the list of sedentary organisms under the Fisheries Management Act. While the specific taxonomic classifications have been revised to reflect current science, the scope remains limited to defining which organisms are subject to the Act's sedentary organism provisions. It does not expand into new policy areas or regulatory functions."},"complexity_factors":["Dense taxonomic classification system with 16 animal phyla/divisions and multiple nested sub-categories (orders, classes, subclasses, superfamilies, families)","Conditional logic requiring three-column matching (phylum + sub-category + life stage) with 'if' conditions in subsections 6(1)(b) and (c)","Multiple explicit exclusions using 'other than' clauses (e.g., 'other than Family Pectinidae', 'other than Superfamily Pterotracheoidea')","Life-stage specificity creates additional conditional layer (adult, polyp, benthic adult, or no restriction)","Special additional requirement in subsection 6(2) for sea squirts (attachment to substrate) creating an exception to the general rule","Cross-reference dependency: instrument has no standalone meaning without subsection 12(1) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991","Scientific Latin terminology throughout requiring biological expertise to interpret (e.g., 'Infraorder Anomura', 'Subclass Pteriomorphia')"],"plain_english_summary":"This Proclamation updates the list of \"sedentary organisms\" under the Fisheries Management Act 1991, replacing the 2015 list with a scientifically current roster and clarifying which stationary marine species and life stages are regulated. It affects commercial fishers, permit-holders, scientists, and managers by confirming which attached or low-mobility creatures (sponges, corals, seaweeds, tunicates, etc.) need specific permits and protections to prevent over-harvest."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the Fisheries Management (Sedentary Organisms) Proclamation 2015 and replaces the list of sedentary organisms to which the Fisheries Management Act applies by specifying new taxonomic groups, life stages and exclusions (ss6–7; Schedule 1). The Proclamation therefore alters the operative specification of covered organisms; it does not assert in itself whether overall coverage is broader or narrower compared with the repealed instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Detailed taxonomic listings across many phyla with multiple nested subcategories and named orders/classes (ss6–7)","Numerous explicit exclusions by family, superfamily and suborder, producing fine‑grained boundaries (s6 table)","Life‑stage and attachment conditions (e.g. polyp, adult, benthic adult; sea squirts must be attached) that change applicability (s6(1)–(2), s7)","Direct cross‑reference to subsection 12(1) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991, tying these lists to the Act’s regulatory regime (s6 heading; s7 heading)","Repeal of the prior 2015 Proclamation and replacement mechanism (Schedule 1)","Commencement mechanics specifying operative date and legal effect timing (s2)","Practical compliance and enforcement complexity for regulated parties and regulators who must classify organisms to these taxonomic and life‑stage rules"],"plain_english_summary":"This Proclamation lists precisely which sedentary marine animals and plants the Fisheries Management Act 1991 covers by naming taxonomic groups, life stages and specific exclusions, and it repeals the 2015 proclamation. It affects fishers, aquaculture operators, researchers and regulators by changing which organisms require licences or management attention, and it creates a compliance task of identifying organisms by taxon and life stage (see ss6–7; Schedule 1)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-sedentary-organisms-proclamation-2025","history":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-sedentary-organisms-proclamation-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-sedentary-organisms-proclamation-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-sedentary-organisms-proclamation-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-sedentary-organisms-proclamation-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/fisheries-management-sedentary-organisms-proclamation-2025/documents"}}