Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Fisheries Act 1995 - SECT 28

PART 3 MANAGEMENT PLANS

Management plans

28. Management plans



(1) The Minister may declare a management plan by notice published in the
Government Gazette.

(2) The Minister may prepare and issue guidelines for or with respect to the
preparation of management plans by notice published in the Government Gazette.

(3) A management plan must be prepared in respect of each fishery for which
the Minister declares by notice published in the Government Gazette that a
fishery management plan is to be prepared.

(4) A management plan may be prepared for any noxious aquatic species declared
under section 75.

(5) A management plan must be prepared in respect of a fisheries reserve as
soon as possible after the fisheries reserve is declared under section 88.

(6) A management plan must-

   (a)  be consistent with the objectives of this Act;

   (aa) be consistent with any guidelines issued under subsection (2);



   (b)  include the management objectives of the plan;

   (c)  specify the management tools and other measures to be used to achieve
        the management objectives;

   (d)  include guidelines for the criteria to be used in respect of the issue
        of licences and permits and in respect of the renewal, variation or
        transfer of licences;

   (e)  as far as is known, identify critical components of the ecosystem
        relevant to the plan and current or potential threats to those
        components and existing or proposed preventative measures;

   (f)  specify performance indicators, targets and monitoring methods;

   (g)  as far as relevant and practicable, identify in respect of the
        fishery, declared noxious aquatic species or fisheries reserve, the
        biological, ecological, social and economic factors relevant to its
        management including-

   (i)  its current status, human uses and economic value;

   (ii) measures to minimise its impact on non-target species and the
        environment;

   (iii) research needs and priorities;

   (iv) the resources required to implement the plan.

(7) A management plan may-

   (a)  specify the manner in which fishing capacity is to be measured and the
        fishing capacity so measured;

   (b)  specify the duration of the management plan;

   (c)  specify the procedures or conditions for review of the plan;

   (ca) specify that licences of a class of access licence may be issued for a
        period of up to 5 years;

   (d)  include any other relevant matters.



(8) Guidelines included in a management plan under subsection (6)(d) may
include criteria designed to reduce the number of licences or permits that are
held in respect of a fishery.