Fisheries Management (Northern Prawn Fishery Permanent Closures) Direction 2021
I, Wez Norris, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, as delegate under delegation No. 2 of 2016 made on 14th November 2016 from the Commission, make the following direction.
Dated 15 March 2021
Wez Norris
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Contents
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Authority
4 Definitions
5 Schedules
6 To whom this applies
7 Prohibition on fishing
8 Exemption to the prohibition in Section 7
Schedule 1 – Closure areas
Part 1 - Caledon Bay area
Part 2 - Port Langdon area
Part 3 - North West Bay area
Part 4 - Bartalumba Bay area
Part 5 - Alyangula area
Part 6 - Dalumba Bay area
Part 7 - Cape Shield to West Island
Part 8 - Sir Edward Pellew Group
Part 9 - Darwin to Point Blaze
Part 10 - Port Essington area
Part 11 - Mornington Island area
Part 11A – Mornington Island Benthic Survey Sites
Part 12 - Arnhem Bay area
Schedule 2 – Repeals
Northern Prawn Fishery (Closures) Direction No. 169
1 Name
This instrument is the Fisheries Management (Northern Prawn Fishery Permanent Closures) Direction 2021.
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
The whole of this instrument This instrument commences on the 14th day after it is registered.
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.
3 Authority
This instrument is made under section 41A of the Act.
4 Definitions
Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the definitions section of the Act, including the following:
(a) boat
(b) fishing
(c) fishing concession
(d) holder
(e) plan of management
(f) statutory fishing right.
A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the interpretation section of the Northern Prawn Fishery Management Plan 1995, including the following:
(a) acting for
(b) Northern Prawn Fishery
(c) Northern Prawn Fishery area.
In this instrument:
Act means the Fisheries Management Act 1991;
boat means a boat that is nominated on statutory fishing rights for the Northern Prawn Fishery, and includes carrier boats and fishing boats;
equipment means equipment for fishing;
rack means a structure on a boat (including a structure on, or forming a part of, the deck of the boat) designed specifically for carrying otter boards when the boards are not in use;
the one nautical mile line means the line, every point of which is one nautical mile seaward from the shore at low-water, of the mainland or an island of Australia and the two nautical mile line and the three nautical mile line have corresponding meanings;
UTC means Coordinated Universal Time, the time scale based on the second (SI), maintained by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. For the purposes of this Direction UTC is equivalent to mean solar time at the prime meridian (0 degrees longitude), formerly expressed in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
This Direction is to be read consistently with other Directions made under the Fisheries Management Act 1991.
The origin of geographical coordinates used in this Direction is the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).
5 Schedules
(1) The instrument that is specified in Schedule 2 to this instrument is repealed as set out in the applicable items in that Schedule.
(2) Schedule 1 to this instrument has effect according to its terms.
6 To whom this applies
This Direction applies to a holder of a fishing concession in the Northern Prawn Fishery and to a person acting on behalf of the holder.
7 Prohibition on fishing
Fishing is not to be engaged in in an area described in Schedule 1 of this Direction.
8 Exemption to the prohibition in Section 7
(1) The prohibition in Section 7 does not apply to a person if the person:
(a) either carries the equipment out of the water; or
(b) if any part of the equipment is in the water, then:
(i) that part is drawn up to the boat; and
(ii) that part is visible from a nearby aircraft or boat; and
(iii) if the equipment includes cod ends - the cod ends are open; and
(iv) if the equipment includes lazy lines and blocks - the lazy lines are on the blocks.
(2) The prohibition in Section 7 does not apply to a person if the person is fishing in accordance with another plan of management in force under the Fisheries Management Act 1991, or a law of a State or Territory that is in force in relation to the Northern Prawn Fishery area.
Schedule 1 – Closure areas
Part 1 - Caledon Bay area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the easternmost point of Point Alexander at mean low water, in the vicinity of the point of Latitude 12° 50.37' South, Longitude 136° 37.3' East;
(b) from there south west along the geodesic to the northernmost point of the unnamed point in the vicinity of point of Latitude 12° 52.4' South, Longitude 136° 32.98' East at mean low water;
(c) from there generally west, north and east along mean low water around Caledon Bay to the point of commencement.
Part 2 - Port Langdon area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the northernmost point of Scott Point on Groote Eylandt at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 44.68' South, Longitude 136° 50.4' East;
(b) from there north-easterly along the geodesic to the westernmost point on Hawk Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 40.55' South, Longitude 136° 53.22' East;
(c) from there westerly along the geodesic to the easternmost point on Jagged Point on an unnamed island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 41.43' South, Longitude 136° 45.27' East;
(d) from there west along the northern coastline of that unnamed island at mean low water to its northernmost point, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 41.12' South, Longitude 136° 44.28' East;
(e) from there west along the parallel of latitude which passes through that northernmost point at mean low water to its intersection with the coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 41.17' South, Longitude 136° 43.87' East;
(f) from there generally south, east and north along the coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water to the point of commencement.
Part 3 - North West Bay area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the northernmost point on Alyinga Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 43.6' South, Longitude 136° 32.83' East;
(b) from there west along the parallel of latitude which passes through that point to its intersection with the eastern coastline of Winchelsea Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 43.6' South, Longitude 136° 32.05' East;
(c) from there generally southerly and south-westerly along the coastline of Winchelsea Island at mean low water to its southernmost point, in the vicinity of the southern end of Winchelsea Passage at of point of Latitude 13° 47.52' South, Longitude 136° 31.15' East;
(d) from there east along the parallel of latitude which passes through that point to its intersection with the coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 47.52' South, Longitude 136° 31.42' East;
(e) from there generally easterly and northerly along the coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water to its intersection with the parallel of latitude that passes through the northernmost point of Finch Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 43.3' South, Longitude 136° 35.28' East;
(f) from there west along that parallel to the northernmost point on Finch Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 43.3' South, Longitude 136° 34.85' East;
(g) from there westerly along the geodesic to the point of commencement.
Part 4 - Bartalumba Bay area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the westernmost point on Winchelsea Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 44.25' South, Longitude 136° 27.98' East;
(b) from there west along the parallel which passes through that point to its intersection with the one nautical mile line, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 44.25' South, Longitude 136° 26.98' East;
(c) from there generally south-easterly, westerly and north-westerly along the one nautical mile line to its intersection with the meridian of Longitude 136° 27.3' East in the vicinity of Latitude 13° 48.17' south;
(d) from there south along the meridian of Longitude 136° 27.3' to its intersection with the northern coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water, in the vicinity Ngadumiyerrka;
(e) from there generally easterly and northerly along the coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water to its intersection with the meridian of Longitude 136° 31.75' East, in the vicinity of Winchelsea Passage;
(f) from there north along the meridian of Longitude 136° 31.75' East to its intersection with the south-eastern coastline of Winchelsea Island at mean low water;
(g) from there south westerly and then generally north-westerly along the coastline of Winchelsea Island at mean low water to the point of commencement.
Part 5 - Alyangula area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the point of intersection of the western coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water with the parallel of Latitude 13° 51.52' South, in the vicinity of the jetty at Alyangula;
(b) from there west along the parallel of Latitude 13° 51.52' South its intersection with the one nautical mile line;
(c) from there generally southerly along the one nautical mile line to its intersection with the parallel of Latitude 13° 58' South;
(d) from there east along the parallel of Latitude 13° 58' South to its intersection with the western coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water, in the vicinity of the northern bank of the mouth of Angurugu Creek;
(e) from there generally north along the coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water to the point of commencement.
Part 6 - Dalumba Bay area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the southernmost point of Lugadamanja Point on Groote Eylandt at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 14° 05.27' South, Longitude 136° 45.1' East;
(b) from there generally north westerly, south westerly, south easterly and northerly along the eastern coastline of Groote Eylandt at mean low water to the northernmost point on the unnamed headland, approximately 1.3 nm west of Adilyagba Point, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 14° 08.68' South, Longitude 136° 46.58' East;
(c) from there north-westerly along the geodesic to the point of commencement.
Part 7 - Cape Shield to West Island
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the southernmost point on Cape Shield on the mainland of Australia at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 19.57' South, Longitude 136° 19.97' East;
(b) from there south along the geodesic to the westernmost point on Connexion Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 13° 50.32' South, Longitude 136° 20.03' East;
(c) from there south west along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 14° 30' South, Longitude 136° 00' East;
(d) from there west along the parallel of Latitude 14° 30' South to its intersection with the eastern coastline of Edward Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 14° 30' South, Longitude 135° 37.67' East;
(e) from there generally south-westerly along the coastline of Edward Island at mean low water to its southernmost point, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 14° 31.1' South, Longitude 135° 36.67' East;
(f) from there south-westerly along the geodesic to the point of intersection of the two nautical mile line around Wilipili Island with the two nautical mile line around the mainland of Australia, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 14° 33.75' South, Longitude 135° 35.35' East;
(g) from there generally south-westerly and south-easterly along the two nautical mile line to its intersection with the two nautical mile line around West Island in the Sir Edward Pellew Group, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 37.4' South, Longitude 136° 27.97' East;
(h) from there south-easterly along the geodesic to the southernmost point on Crocodile Point on West Island at mean low water, the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 38.63' South, Longitude 136° 29.67' East;
(i) from there south-westerly along the geodesic to the point of intersection of the meridian of Longitude 136° 28' East with the northern coastline of the mainland of Australia at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 39.85' South, Longitude 136° 28' East;
(j) from there generally north-westerly and north-easterly along the coastline of the mainland of Australia at mean low water to the point of commencement.
Part 8 - Sir Edward Pellew Group
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the point of intersection of the meridian of Longitude 136° 28' East with the northern coastline of the mainland of Australia at mean low water;
(b) from there north-easterly along the geodesic to the southernmost point on Crocodile Point on West Island in the Sir Edward Pellew Group at mean low water;
(c) from there generally easterly along the southern coastline of West Island at mean low water to its south-easternmost point, the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 38.72' South, Longitude 136° 35.45' East;
(d) from there south-easterly along the geodesic to the northernmost point on South West Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 39.83' South, Longitude 136° 40.32' East;
(e) from there north-easterly along the geodesic to the westernmost point on Toby Point on Watson Island at mean low water;
(f) from there generally north-easterly along the western coastline of Watson Island at mean low water to the north-westernmost point on an unnamed headland, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 33.6' South, Longitude 136° 47.68' East;
(g) from there north-easterly along the geodesic to the southernmost point of Paradice Bay on North Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 32.33' South, Longitude 136° 50.73' East;
(h) from there north-easterly along the coastline of North Island at mean low water to the most northern point on Cape Pellew at mean low-water;
(i) from there south-easterly along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 15° 34.7’ South, Longitude 136° 58.7' East;
(j) from there south along the meridian of Longitude 136° 58.7' East to its intersection with northern coastline of Vanderlin Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of Kedge Point;
(k) from there generally north and south-easterly along the eastern coastline of Vanderlin Island at mean low water to the southernmost point on Goat Point, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 50.77' South, Longitude 137° 04.52' East;
(l) then south along the meridian which passes through that point to its intersection with the two nautical mile line, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 15° 53.75' South, Longitude 137° 04.52' East;
(m) from there generally south-easterly along the two nautical mile line to its intersection with the meridian of Longitude 138° 00' East;
(n) from there south along the meridian of Longitude 138° 00' East to its intersection with the northern coastline of the mainland of Australia at mean low water;
(o) from there generally north-westerly along the coastline of Australia at mean low water to the point of commencement.
Part 9 - Darwin to Point Blaze
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the westernmost point on Point Blaze on the mainland of Australia at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 12° 55.82' South, Longitude 130° 08.3' East;
(b) from there west along the parallel of Latitude that passes through that point to its intersection with the three nautical mile line, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 12° 55.82' South, Longitude 130° 05.3' East;
(c) from there generally north-easterly along the three nautical mile line to its intersection with the parallel of Latitude 12° 15' South;
(d) from there east along the parallel of Latitude 12° 15' South to its intersection with northern coastline of the mainland of Australia at mean low water;
(e) from there generally south-westerly along the coastline of the mainland of Australian at mean low water to the point of commencement.
Part 10 - Port Essington area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the most northerly point on Vashion Head at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 11° 07.5' South, Longitude 131° 59.65' East;
(b) from there generally south east and north around the coastline of Port Essington at mean low water to the northern most point of Smith Point, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 11° 07.35' South, Longitude 132° 08.2' East;
(c) from there westerly along the geodesic to the point of commencement.
Part 11 - Mornington Island area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the intersection of the mainland of Australia at mean low water with the meridian of Longitude 139° 25' East, in the vicinity of a point on the coast about 2.5 nm north west of Tarrant Point;
(b) from there north-easterly along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 17° 05.65' South, Longitude 139° 34.72' East, in the vicinity of Raft Point on Bentinck Island;
(c) from there north-easterly along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 16° 31.92' South, Longitude 139° 42.75' East, in the vicinity of Cape Van Diemen on Mornington Island;
(d) from there north-easterly along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 16° 29.5' South, Longitude 139° 49' East, in the vicinity of Pisonia Island;
(e) from there north-westerly along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 16° 27' South, Longitude 139° 43.5' East, in the vicinity of Mudgun Point on Lingnoonganee (Wallaby) Island;
(f) from there north-westerly along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 16° 21.5' South, Longitude 139° 33' East;
(g) from there south along the meridian of Longitude 139° 33' East to the intersection of the coastline on Mornington Island at mean low water, in the vicinity of Nyuldora at Latitude 16° 23.47' South;
(h) from there generally south-westerly along the coastline of Mornington Island at mean low water to the westernmost point of Gee Wee point, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 16° 38.05' South, Longitude 139° 09.02' East;
(i) from there south-westerly along the geodesic to the intersection of the meridian of Longitude 138° 50' East with the coastline of the mainland of Australia at mean low water, in the vicinity of Bundella Creek;
(j) from there generally south-easterly along the coastline of the mainland of Australia at mean low water to the point of commencement.
Part 11A – Mornington Island Benthic Survey Sites
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the point Latitude 16° 27.85' South, Longitude 139° 07.72' East;
(b) then east along the parallel of Latitude 16° 27.85' South to its intersection with the meridian of Longitude 139° 12.37' East;
(c) from there south along the meridian of Longitude 139° 12.37' East to its intersection with the parallel of Latitude 16° 30.24' South;
(d) from there west along the parallel of Latitude 16° 30.24' South to its intersection with the meridian of Longitude 139° 07.72' East;
(e) from there north along the meridian of Longitude 139° 07.72' East to the point of commencement.
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at the point Latitude 16° 33.08' South, Longitude 140° 06.11' East;
(b) from there east along that parallel of Latitude 16° 33.08' South to its intersection with the meridian of Longitude 140° 12.32' East;
(c) from there south along the meridian of Longitude 140° 12.32' East to its intersection with the parallel of Latitude 16° 39.77' South;
(d) from there west along the parallel of Latitude 16° 39.77' South to its intersection with the meridian of Longitude 140° 09.42' East;
(e) from there north along that meridian of Longitude 140° 09.42' East to its intersection with the parallel of Latitude 16° 35.55' South;
(f) from there west along the parallel of Latitude 16° 35.55' South to its intersection with the meridian of Longitude 140° 06.11' East;
(g) from there north along the meridian of Longitude 140° 06.11' East to the point of commencement.
Part 12 - Arnhem Bay area
The area bounded by the line:
(a) commencing at most western point on Cape Newbald on the mainland of Australia at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 12° 09.85' South, Longitude 136° 10.02' East;
(b) from there north-westerly along the geodesic to the northern most point on Flinders Point at mean low water, in the vicinity of point of Latitude 12° 03.78' South, Longitude 136° 02.7' East;
(c) from there generally southerly, westerly, north westerly and easterly along the coastline of Arnhem Bay at mean low water to the point of commencement.
Schedule 2 – Repeals
Northern Prawn Fishery (Closures) Direction No. 169