What it does
The Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 (Tas) (the Act) is the foundation statute for managing all fisheries and marine aquaculture in Tasmanian waters. It establishes the legal basis for commercial fishing licences, quota systems, marine farming licences, marine habitat protection, and the enforcement powers that fisheries officers exercise over vessels, premises, and persons in those waters.
The Act applies to waters within three nautical miles of the Tasmanian coast, internal waters, rivers, estuaries, and intertidal areas (section 5). It expressly binds the Crown in right of Tasmania (section 8), and all living marine resources in covered waters are owned by the State (section 9), except fish specifically farmed under a marine farming licence, which belong to the licence holder.
The central purpose, stated in section 7, is sustainable development of living marine resources. Functions and powers under the Act must be exercised in a manner that furthers the objective of resource management, taking account of ecosystem integrity, sustainability, corresponding laws in other jurisdictions, and community needs.