11Reference points

11 Reference points

(1) This section sets out provisional reference points for primary and secondary species.

(2) Within 12 months after the commencement day, AFMA must:

(a) collate all available information about the stocks of bigeye tuna, broadbill swordfish, striped marlin and yellowfin tuna in the fishery; and

(b) assess the risks to the ecological sustainability of those stocks; and

(c) unless it sets reference points at the end of that 12 months — not increase the amount of each of the species mentioned in paragraph (a) expected to be taken under the longline TAE and minor line TAE.

(3) Within 24 months after the commencement day, AFMA must:

(a) carry out an assessment of the risk to the ecological sustainability of each primary species and secondary species posed by fishing in the fishery; and

(b) establish reference points for each of those species.

(4) If no reference points are set, AFMA must set precautionary limits on the catch of the species.

Note 1 Subsection 17 (5C) of the Act provides that a plan of management for a fishery affecting straddling fish stocks, highly migratory fish stocks or ecologically related fish stocks (within the meaning of the Fish Stocks Agreement) must set out stock‑specific reference points (within the meaning of that Agreement) for the stocks. Information to determine reference points is currently poor and, until reliable information is available, provisional reference points are being used. When improved monitoring yields more accurate information, the provisional reference points will be revised.

Note 2 Other ecosystem requirements in this Management Plan are included in Part 4 (Statutory fishing rights and fishing permits) and section 50 (Obligations relating to interactions with certain species and communities).

Note 3 Obligations have been placed on the holders of fishing concessions under section 49 (Obligations of holders of SFRs) to ensure that by‑catch is kept to a minimum.