{"id":"tas:sr-1997-170","name":"Inland Fisheries (Protected Fish) Order 1997","slug":"inland-fisheries-protected-fish-order-1997","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"170 of 1997","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":319106,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-1997-170-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> This order may be cited as the [Inland Fisheries (Protected Fish) Order 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-9999-999) .","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> This order takes effect on 1 January 1998.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 3 Interpretation\n\n> In this order –\n> \n> > ***Act*** means the [Inland Fisheries Act 1995](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1995-110) ;\n> \n> > ***giant freshwater crayfish*** means fish of the species (*Astacopsis gouldi*).","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Protected fish","content":"### 4 Protected fish\n\n> Giant freshwater crayfish is declared to be protected fish for the purposes of the Act.\n\nDisplayed and numbered in accordance with the *[Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1953-050)*.\n\nNotified in the *Gazette* on 24 December 1997\n\nThis order is administered in the Department of Environment and Land Management.","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available text, the order appears to remain consistent with its original 1997 intent of designating protected fish species in Tasmanian inland waters. It has been in continuous force since 1 January 1998 with no indication of significant scope changes, though amendments noted in the Table of Amending Instruments could not be fully assessed from the provided text."},"complexity_factors":["The order is subordinate legislation (a statutory instrument), which requires understanding of the parent Act to fully interpret","The substantive content (the list of protected species) is not visible in the provided text, requiring cross-referencing","Minimal complexity otherwise — the concept of 'protected fish' is straightforward","Limited jurisdictional scope (Tasmania only, inland waters only)"],"plain_english_summary":"This order designates certain freshwater fish in Tasmania’s inland waters as legally \"protected,\" making it unlawful to catch, keep, sell or harm those species without specific authorisation.  \n\nIt therefore directly affects recreational and commercial fishers, researchers and others working in rivers, lakes and streams, serving as a conservation tool to safeguard native or vulnerable species and enforce penalties under the Inland Fisheries Act."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow scope. It was clearly intended from the outset to protect a single iconic Tasmanian species, and has not expanded beyond that purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short: only 4 operative sections","Only 2 defined terms ('Act' and 'giant freshwater crayfish')","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the parent Act","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Single substantive provision (section 4) with straightforward declaration","No administrative procedures, offences, or penalties defined within the order itself"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does**\n\nThis order gives special legal protection to one specific animal: the **giant freshwater crayfish** (*Astacopsis gouldi*), also known as the Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish or \"lobster.\"\n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- Anyone fishing, catching, or handling freshwater crayfish in Tasmania\n- The Department of Environment and Land Management (now part of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania), which enforces these rules\n\n**Why it matters**\n\nThe giant freshwater crayfish is the world's largest freshwater invertebrate and is found only in northern Tasmania. By declaring it \"protected fish\" under the *Inland Fisheries Act 1995*, this order makes it **illegal to catch, take, or possess** this species without a special permit. This protection helps prevent the species from being overfished or driven to extinction.\n\n**Key points**\n- Only one species is protected under this order\n- The protection took effect on 1 January 1998\n- \"Protected fish\" status means strict penalties apply for taking or disturbing the species"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This order expands the scope of the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 by adding giant freshwater crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) to the Act's list of protected fish, thereby subjecting that species to the Act's protections and regulatory regime (s4). The order defines the species (s3) and fixes the date the change takes effect (s2); it does not itself set out enforcement or permitting mechanics, which remain in the Act."},"complexity_factors":["Single substantive operative provision: declaration that giant freshwater crayfish are protected fish (s4).","Relies on external Act for enforcement, penalties and procedural detail—instrument itself contains no enforcement mechanics (see definition of Act in s3).","Concise definition linking common name to scientific name reduces ambiguity (s3: Astacopsis gouldi).","Fixed commencement date simplifies temporal application but requires retrospective administrative steps from 1 Jan 1998 (s2).","Administrative responsibility explicitly stated (administered by Department of Environment and Land Management), but no delegation or permitting processes detailed.","Low textual complexity but high dependency on cross-reference to the Inland Fisheries Act 1995 for operational effect."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, this order declares the giant freshwater crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) to be \"protected fish\" under the Inland Fisheries Act 1995, taking effect 1 January 1998. It therefore brings that species within the Act's regulatory framework.\n\nIt affects people who catch, possess, trade, manage or otherwise interact with that species and allocates administration to the Department of Environment and Land Management. The order imposes legal status; specific controls, offences and permits arise from the Act's provisions."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/inland-fisheries-protected-fish-order-1997","history":"/api/acts/inland-fisheries-protected-fish-order-1997/history","analysis":"/api/acts/inland-fisheries-protected-fish-order-1997/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/inland-fisheries-protected-fish-order-1997/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/inland-fisheries-protected-fish-order-1997/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/inland-fisheries-protected-fish-order-1997/documents"}}