{"id":"F2008B00760","name":"Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 - Proclamation (17/03/1999)","slug":"torres-strait-fisheries-act-1984-proclamation-17-03-1999","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":72066,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008B00760-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 - Proclamation (17/03/1999)","content":"Proclamation\n\nTorres Strait Fisheries Act 1984\n\nI, WILLIAM PATRICK DEANE, Governor-General of the  \nCommonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal  \nExecutive Council and under subsection 15 (1) of the Torres Strait  \nFisheries Act 1984, declare the area specified in the Schedule to be an  \narea outside but near the Protected Zone for the performance, in the  \ncourse of commercial fishing, of any activity by way of commercial  \nfishing (other than fishing for prawns, tropical rock lobster, Spanish  \nmackerel, dugong, turtles, and pearl shell).\n\nSigned and sealed with the\n\nGreat Seal of Australia on\n\n17th March 1999\n\n(signed) William Deane\n\nGovernor-General\n\nBy His Excellency's Command,\n\n\\[signed\\]\n\nMARK VAILE\n\nMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\n  \n\nSchedule 1 Area declared for any kind of commercial fishing other than commercial fishing for prawns, tropical rock lobster, Spanish mackerel, dugong, turtles, and pearl shell\n\nThe area of waters (excluding any waters within the limits of Queensland) bounded by a line:\n\n(a) commencing at latitude 10°48'00\" South, longitude 141°20'00\" East;\n\n(b) then running north along meridian of longitude 141°20'00\" East to its intersection with parallel of latitude 10°28'00\" South;\n\n(c) then east along that parallel to its intersection with meridian of longitude 144°00'00\" East;\n\n(d) then south along that meridian to its intersection with parallel of latitude 10°41'00\" South;\n\n(e) then west along that parallel to its intersection with meridian of longitude 142°31'49\" East;\n\n(f) then south along that meridian to its northernmost intersection with the coastline of Cape York Peninsula at low water;\n\n(g) then generally south-westerly along the low water line on the western coastline of Cape York Peninsula, (and across any river mouth) to its intersection with parallel of latitude 10°48'00\" South;\n\n(h) then west along that parallel to the point of commencement.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This proclamation exercises s15(1) to declare a new federal marine area where most commercial fishing is permitted (subject to listed species exclusions). Mechanically, it alters the Act’s operational geographic scope by identifying waters outside the Protected Zone where federal fishing rules apply (excluding Queensland waters). The decision centralises who may fish in that area, imposes compliance obligations on commercial fishers, and creates enforcement tasks for federal authorities."},"complexity_factors":["Use of precise geographic coordinates and bearings to define the area (requires nautical interpretation).","Exclusion of any waters within the limits of Queensland — interaction of Commonwealth and State boundaries.","List of species expressly excluded from permitted commercial fishing in the declared area.","Legal authority invoked (subsection 15(1) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984) — a delegated executive proclamation rather than primary legislation amendment.","Reference to low-water coastline and river mouths — creates practical enforcement/measurement issues.","Limited subject-matter scope (only commercial fishing activities) but could interact with other marine or environmental rules."],"plain_english_summary":"Declares a precisely bounded area of water, outside but adjacent to the Torres Strait Protected Zone, where commercial fishing is allowed for all purposes except fishing for prawns, tropical rock lobster, Spanish mackerel, dugong, turtles and pearl shell. It changes which federal marine areas are open to commercial fishers, places compliance obligations on operators (and enforcement responsibility on authorities), and was made by the Governor‑General under subsection 15(1) of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This proclamation operates exactly within the intended scope of section 15 of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984, which specifically empowers the Governor-General to declare areas outside but near the Protected Zone for commercial fishing purposes. The instrument does not expand the Act's purpose; it exercises a standard delegated power."},"complexity_factors":["Single operative provision (subsection 15(1) declaration)","No defined terms within the instrument itself (relies on parent Act definitions)","Simple conditional structure: 'any activity... other than' followed by explicit exclusions list","Geographic description uses standard coordinate-based boundary method common in maritime law","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the empowering provision","Total length: approximately 250 words"],"plain_english_summary":"This proclamation designates a specific patch of ocean just outside the Torres Strait Protected Zone where commercial fishing is permitted for most species but expressly excludes prawns, tropical rock lobster, Spanish mackerel, dugong, turtles and pearl shell. It affects commercial fishers working in Torres Strait waters and matters because it expands legally available fishing grounds while maintaining conservation protections for the listed species through a geographically precise, map-defined decision."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/torres-strait-fisheries-act-1984-proclamation-17-03-1999","history":"/api/acts/torres-strait-fisheries-act-1984-proclamation-17-03-1999/history","analysis":"/api/acts/torres-strait-fisheries-act-1984-proclamation-17-03-1999/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/torres-strait-fisheries-act-1984-proclamation-17-03-1999/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/torres-strait-fisheries-act-1984-proclamation-17-03-1999/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/torres-strait-fisheries-act-1984-proclamation-17-03-1999/documents"}}