FISH RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT 1994

Table of Provisions

• Long Title

PART 1 -- Preliminary  

• 1 Short title
 
• 2 Commencement
 
• 3 Objects
 
• 4A Precautionary principle, effect of
 
• 4 Terms used
 
• 5 WA waters
 
• 6 Aboriginal persons, application of Act to
 
• 7 Exemptions from Act, grant of by Minister
 
• 8 Crown bound

PART 2 -- Administration  

• 9 “Minister for Fisheries”, body corporate
 
• 11 Fisheries officers and other staff, appointment of
 
• 12 Delegation by Minister
 
• 13 Delegation by CEO
 
• 14 Minister may carry out research etc.

PART 3 -- Commonwealth-State management of fisheries

Division 1 -- Preliminary  

• 15 Terms used

Division 2 -- Joint Authorities  

• 16 Minister’s powers and functions under Commonwealth Act
 
• 17 Judicial notice of signature etc. of Joint Authority member
 
• 18 Functions of Joint Authority
 
• 19 Delegation by Joint Authority
 
• 20 Procedure of Joint Authorities
 
• 21 Report of Joint Authority

Division 3 -- Arrangements for management of particular fisheries  

• 22 Arrangement for management under Commonwealth Act
 
• 23 Application of this Act to fisheries under arrangements
 
• 24A Application of Commonwealth law to fisheries under arrangements
 
• 24 Joint Authority, functions of
 
• 25 Joint Authority, exercise of powers by
 
• 26 Provisions in this Act about offences etc., application of to Joint Authority fishery
 
• 27 Certain statements in arrangements, presumptions as to
 
• 28 Regulations etc. for fisheries under arrangements

Division 4 -- Arrangements with other States and Territories  

• 29A Minister may enter into arrangements
 
• 29B Minister’s functions for this Division

PART 4 -- Advisory Committees

Division 4 -- Fishery Management Advisory Committees  

• 41 Committees, establishment and functions of

Division 5 -- Other committees  

• 42 Other committees, establishment and functions of

Division 6 -- Operation of committees  

• 43A Regulations about operation of committees

PART 5 -- General regulation of fishing

Division 1 -- Prohibited fishing  

• 43 Minister may prohibit fishing
 
• 44 Minister’s orders subject to disallowance by Parliament

Division 2 -- Protected fish  

• 45 Protected fish, prescription of
 
• 46 Totally protected fish, offences as to
 
• 47 Commercially protected fish, offences as to
 
• 48A Recreationally protected fish, offences as to
 
• 48 Defences to charges under s. 46, 47 or 48A
  49. Mutilation of fish to prevent determination, offence

Division 3 -- Bag and possession limits  

• 50 Bag limits for taking fish, regulations and offences as to
 
• 51 Possession limits for fish, regulations and offences as to

Division 4 -- General penalty  

• 52 General penalty for s. 43, 46, 47, 48A, 50 and

PART 6 -- Management of fisheries

Division 1 -- Interpretation  

• 53 Term used: authorisation

Division 2 -- Management plans  

• 54 Determination etc. of management plan
 
• 55 Instruments under s. 54 subject to disallowance by Parliament
 
• 56 Contents of management plans, general provisions
 
• 57 Expiry date for plan for interim managed fishery
 
• 58 Management plan may provide for authorisations etc.
 
• 59 Management plan may specify capacity of fishery
 
• 60 Management plan may provide for entitlements under authorisations
 
• 61 Management plan may prohibit fishing etc.
 
• 62 Management plan, miscellaneous provisions in
 
• 63 How interim managed fishery becomes managed fishery

Division 3 -- Procedure before determining or amending management plans  

• 64 Procedure before determining management plan
 
• 65 Procedure before amending management plan

Division 4 -- Managed fishery licences and interim managed fishery permits  

• 66 Authorisations, grant of
 
• 67 Duration of authorisations
 
• 68 Renewal of authorisations
 
• 69 Conditions in authorisations
 
• 70 Authorisation ceases to have effect if management plan ceases to have effect
 
• 71 Prior fishing confers no right to authorisation
 
• 72 Grant of authorisation confers no right to subsequent authorisation
 
• 73 Other licences do not authorise fishing in fishery
 
• 73A Authorisation is subject to restrictions in relation to certain marine reserves

Division 5 -- Offences  

• 74 Contravening management plan
 
• 76 Offence under s. 74(1) or 77(1), court to order reduction of entitlement in certain cases of
 
• 77 Contravening condition of managed fishery licence or managed fishery permit, offence
 
• 78A Regulations relating to cancellations under s.

PART 7 -- Fish processing  

• 79 When permit to construct place to process fish required
 
• 80 Permit for processing fish, grant of
 
• 81 Conditions on s. 80 permits
 
• 82 When fish processor’s licence required
 
• 83 Fish processor’s licence, grant of
 
• 84 Duration of licence
 
• 85 Renewal of licence
 
• 86 Licensee not to process or store fish except at place specified in licence
 
• 87 Conditions on fish processor’s licence
 
• 88 Contravening condition of permit or licence, offence
 
• 89 Regulations about processing etc. fish

PART 8 -- Aquaculture

Division 1 -- Aquaculture licences  

• 90 When licence required
 
• 91 Exceptions to s.
 
• 92A Applicant for licence to have management and environmental monitoring plan (MEMP)
 
• 92 Licence, grant of
 
• 93 Duration of licence
 
• 94 Renewal of licence
 
• 95 Conditions of licences
 
• 96 Contravening licence, offence
 
• 97A Contravening MEMP, offence
 
• 97B Temporary aquaculture permits, grant of

Division 2 -- Aquaculture leases  

• 97C Methods by which Minister may offer areas for lease
 
• 97 Leases, grant of
 
• 98 Certain marine reserves, grant of leases in
 
• 98A Certain marine reserves, renewal of leases in
 
• 99 Aquaculture licence and aquaculture lease, relationship of
 
• 100A Contravening lease, offences
 
• 100 Termination of lease
 
• 101 Clean-up and rehabilitation of former leased area

Division 3 -- Miscellaneous matters  

• 101A Minister’s powers as to aquaculture
 
• 102 Regulations about aquaculture

PART 9A -- Exotic fish  

• 103A Accidental introduction of exotic fish into WA waters, CEO’s powers to reduce risk of

PART 9 -- Noxious fish  

• 103 Noxious fish, prescription of
 
• 104 Noxious fish, offences as to
 
• 105 Noxious fish not to be brought into the State etc.
 
• 106 Fisheries officers’ powers as to people with noxious fish
 
• 107 Destroying noxious fish, recovering costs of
 
• 108 No compensation payable for incidental damage

PART 10 -- Designated fishing zones  

• 109 Designated fishing zones, prescription of
 
• 110 Marine reserve, no designated fishing zone in
 
• 111 Signs indicating zones to be erected
 
• 112 Fisheries officers’ powers as to people in designated fishing zones
 
• 113 Regulations about designated fishing zones

PART 11 -- Fish habitat protection areas and Abrolhos Islands reserve

Division 1 -- Fish habitat protection areas  

• 114 Application of Division to other Acts
 
• 115 Fish habitat protection areas, creating
 
• 116 Marine reserve, no fish habitat protection area in
 
• 117 Draft plan for fish habitat protection area, Minister to determine
 
• 118 Notice of proposal to create fish habitat protection area
 
• 119 Control and management of fish habitat protection areas
 
• 120 Regulations about fish habitat protection areas

Division 2 -- Abrolhos Islands reserve  

• 121 Regulations about reserve
 
• 122 Control and management of reserve
 
• 123 Parks and Reserves Act 1895, application of to reserve

PART 12 -- Register  

• 124 Registrar
 
• 125 Register of authorisations etc.
 
• 126 Information to be included in register
 
• 127 Application to have security interest in authorisation etc. noted
 
• 128 Notation of security interest
 
• 129 Irrelevant matters for purpose of s.
 
• 130 Security holder noted in register to be notified of certain events affecting security
 
• 131 Removing or varying notation of security interest
 
• 132 Register may be amended
 
• 133 No compensation payable because of Registrar’s acts
 
• 134 Regulations about register

PART 13 -- General provisions relating to authorisations  

• 135 Applications for grant etc. of authorisation
 
• 136 Grant of authorisations not as of right
 
• 136A Marine reserves, grant and renewal of authorisations for areas in
 
• 137 Effect of authorisations
 
• 138 Form of authorisations
 
• 139 Renewal after expiry
 
• 140 Transfer of authorisations
 
• 141 Temporary transfer of entitlements under authorisations
 
• 142 Varying authorisations
 
• 143 Cancelling, suspending and non-renewal of authorisations
 
• 144 Voluntary surrender of authorisations
 
• 145 Return of authorisations, CEO may require
 
• 146A Death of individual who holds authorisation

PART 14 -- Right to object or apply for review  

• 146 Term used: affected person
 
• 147 CEO to notify persons of certain decisions
 
• 148 CEO to publish notice of certain decisions
 
• 149 Review by SAT of certain decisions
 
• 150 Authorisation continues pending review decision about renewal
 
• 151 CEO to give notice of when decision listed in s. 147(1) has effect
 
• 152 SAT to give notice of decision on review

PART 15A -- Fish trafficking  

• 153 Terms used
 
• 154 Trafficking in fish defined
 
• 155 Trafficking in commercial quantity of priority fish, offence
 
• 156 Regulations about trafficking in fish

PART 15 -- Miscellaneous offences  

• 170 Explosives and noxious substances not to be used for fishing
 
• 171 Preventing etc. lawful fishing activities, offence
 
• 172 Removing fish from etc. fishing gear etc. without authority, offence
 
• 173 Purchase or sale of fish taken unlawfully, offence
 
• 174 Foreign boat not to be used for fishing etc., offence
 
• 175 Foreign boat equipped with fishing gear, possession of is offence
 
• 175A Mandatory maximum sentences for individuals convicted of third or subsequent offences under s. 174 or
  176. False statements in applications

PART 16A -- Emergency powers to deal with biological threats  

• 177A Application of Part
 
• 177B Terms used
 
• 177C Biological threats, CEO’s powers to deal with

PART 16 -- Fisheries officers  

• 177 Certificate of appointment, issue of etc.
 
• 178 Certificate of appointment, production of
 
• 179 Honorary fisheries officers, appointment of etc.
 
• 180 Police officers to have powers of fisheries officers
 
• 181 Naval officers to have powers of fisheries officers in dealing with foreign boats
 
• 182 Powers to enter certain places to inspect certain matters
 
• 183 Powers to enter and search land to investigate offences
 
• 184 Powers to enter and search non-residential premises
 
• 185 Powers to enter and search residential premises
 
• 186 Powers to enter and search tents etc. where fish or gear is suspected to be
 
• 187 Warrants to enter and search places
 
• 188 Warrants may be granted by telephone etc.
 
• 189 Powers to obtain certain information
 
• 190 Powers to inspect etc. authorisations etc.
 
• 191 Other powers
 
• 191A Powers under Animal Welfare Act 2002 to prevent cruelty to fish
 
• 192 Powers to arrest without warrant
 
• 193 Powers to seize things
 
• 194 Powers to deal with seized fish
 
• 195 Powers to seize abandoned etc. fishing gear
 
• 196 Interfering with seized property, offence
 
• 197 Power to require assistance from people
 
• 198 Duty to try to minimize damage
 
• 199 False or misleading information to fisheries officer, offence
 
• 200 Obstructing etc. fisheries officers

PART 17 -- Legal proceedings

Division 1 -- Proceedings  

• 201 Prosecutions, institution of etc.

Division 2 -- Responsibility of certain persons  

• 202 Masters’ liability
 
• 202A Person in charge of a fishing tour, liability of
 
• 202B Authorisation holder, liability of for offences by co-holders
 
• 203 Authorisation holder, liability of for offences by agents of
 
• 204 Liability of officers for offence by body corporate

Division 3 -- Evidentiary provisions  

• 205 Exemptions etc., onus of proving
 
• 206 Place of offence, proof of
 
• 207 Foreign boat, proof as to
 
• 208 Contents etc. of package etc., proof of
 
• 209 Fish taken for sale, proof as to
 
• 210 Fish on fishing boats and commercial premises etc. presumed to be for sale
 
• 211 Purpose or intent, proof of
 
• 212 Authorisations etc., evidence as to
 
• 213 Species of fish etc., evidence as to
 
• 214 Size etc. of fish, determining
 
• 215 Accuracy of fisheries officers’ equipment, presumption as to
 
• 216 Positions on Earth, determining

Division 4 -- Forfeiture  

• 217 Seized things, return of and security for
 
• 218 Forfeiture of fish, gear etc., court orders for
 
• 219 Unclaimed seized things, forfeiture of
 
• 220 Certain fish forfeited when seized
 
• 221 Forfeited things, disposal of

Division 5 -- Additional penalties  

• 222 Additional penalty based on value of fish for certain offences
 
• 223 Cancelling or suspending authorisation, court’s powers for
 
• 224 Automatic suspension if 3 offences committed in 10 year period
 
• 225 Prohibitions on offender, court’s powers to impose etc.

Division 6 -- Infringement notices  

• 226 Term used: authorised person
 
• 227 Authorised persons, appointment of
 
• 228 Infringement notices, service of
 
• 229 Infringement notices, form of
 
• 230 Extending time to pay modified penalty
 
• 231 Withdrawal of infringement notice
 
• 232 Payment of modified penalty, consequences of

PART 18 -- Financial provisions

Division 1 -- Collection of levy imposed under Fishing Industry Promotion Training and Management Levy Act 1994  

• 233 When and to whom levy is payable
 
• 234 Payment by instalments
 
• 235 Exemption from levy
 
• 236 Penalty for non-payment
 
• 237 Recovery of levy

Division 2 -- Accounts  

• 238 Fisheries Research and Development Account
 
• 239 Recreational Fishing Account
 
• 240 Fishing Industry Promotion Training and Management Levy Account
 
• 243 Financial Management Act 2006 and Auditor General Act 2006, application of

PART 19 -- Miscellaneous  

• 244 Protection from personal liability
 
• 246 Administrative guidelines, issue and effect of
 
• 247 Guidelines about foreign interests, issue of
 
• 248 Consultation before issue etc. of guidelines under s. 246 or
  249. Inquiry into holder etc. of authorisation, commencement and conduct of  
• 250 Confidential information, divulging
 
• 251 Exclusive licences to take fish, grant of
 
• 252 Marine reserve, no exclusive licence to be granted in
 
• 254 Waterway works, public authority to notify Minister of
 
• 255 Activities that pollute waters, Minister may prohibit
 
• 256 Regulations, general power to make
 
• 257 Regulations about licensing
 
• 258 Regulations, miscellaneous subjects for
 
• 259 Categories of fish, prescription of
 
• 261 Notices etc., service of
 
• 262 Orders, regulations etc., CEO to make publicly available
 
• 263 Annual report of Department, content of

PART 20 -- Transitional matters

Division 1 -- Transitional matters for Fish Resources Management Act 1994  

• 266 Fish Resources Management Act 1994, provisions for (Sch. 3)

Division 2 -- Transitional matters for Fish Resources Management Amendment Act 2011  

• 267 Term used: amending Act
 
• 268 Exemptions under s.
 
• 269 Application of extended period for service of infringement notices under s.
 
• 270 Transfer of money in accounts under repealed s. 241 and
• SCHEDULE 3 -- Savings and transitional provisions for Fish Resources Management Act 1994