Commonwealth legislation

Direction No. SSJFDIR 2 - Prohibition on Shark Finning (26/10/2005)

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

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This Direction bans shark finning in the Southern Squid Jig Fishery. Shark finning is the wasteful practice of cutting off a shark's fins and discarding the rest of the animal at sea.

What is prohibited: Fishers cannot carry, retain, or bring ashore detached shark fins—including dorsal (back), pectoral (side), caudal (tail), pelvic, and anal fins—from any shark species.

The only exception: The ban does not apply if:

The fins remain naturally attached to the shark's body (carcass); and
The total weight of all fish caught on that single fishing trip is less than 100 kilograms.

Who it affects: Commercial fishers licensed to operate in the Southern Squid Jig Fishery.

Why it matters: This rule prevents the cruel and unsustainable practice of harvesting only valuable shark fins while dumping the bodies overboard, ensuring sharks are either landed whole or released intact.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Direction No. SSJFDIR 2 - Prohibition on Shark Finning (26/10/2005).

Direction No. SSJFDIR 2 - Prohibition on Shark Finning (26/10/2005)

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ACT 1991

SOUTHERN SQUID JIG FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN 2005

DIRECTION No. SSJFDIR 2

PROHIBITION ON SHARK FINNING

The AUSTRALIAN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY determines this Direction under section 17(5A) and 17(5B) of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and section 18(1) of the Southern Squid Jig Fishery Management Plan 2005.

Dated 26 October 2005

PETER WITHERIDGE

Common seal of the
Australian Fisheries
Management Authority

_______________________

Citation

This Direction may be cited as Direction No. SSJFDIR 2.

Commencement and period of application

This Direction commences on registration and ceases once revoked.

Interpretation

A term used in this Direction by way or priority, or if there is any inconsistency:

(a) takes the meaning given to it in the Southern Squid Jig Fishery Management Plan 2005; and then

(b) if no meaning is given to the word in the Southern Squid Jig Fishery Management Plan 2005, takes the meaning given to that word under the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

Prohibition on shark finning

This Direction prohibits the carrying, retaining, or landing of dorsal, pectoral, caudal, pelvic and anal fins for all shark species (Class Chondricthyes).

Exemptions to the prohibition on taking fish in clause 4

The prohibition in clause 4 does not apply if these are attached to the carcass and their combined weight, with any other fish of the Superclass Pisces taken in one fishing trip, is less than 100 kilograms.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Direction No. SSJFDIR 2 - Prohibition on Shark Finning (26/10/2005)