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Commonwealth act
This is the main federal law governing how Australia manages its ocean fisheries (fish populations and the act of catching them). It covers Australia's vast Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) — essentially the waters extending up to 200 nautical miles off Australia's coastline — as well as Australian boats and citizens fishing on the high seas (international waters beyond any country's exclusive zone).
The Act creates and empowers the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) — a federal body responsible for day-to-day fisheries management. AFMA issues licences, creates management plans, and enforces the rules.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Fisheries Management Act 1991.
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View on official registerSourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Serious breaches carry significant financial penalties — up to 2,500 penalty units (currently around $825,000) for corporations engaging in banned driftnet fishing. Many offences are strict liability, meaning you can be guilty even without intending to break the law — if you did the act, you're responsible.
If you fish commercially in Australian waters or as an Australian on the high seas, this law governs virtually everything you do — from the licence you hold, to what you can catch, how much, with what gear, and what records you must keep. If you fish recreationally, you're largely outside this law's reach unless a specific plan targets your area or species.