Estimated catch: 174.5 tonnes

Major species:

• Redthroat emperor
• Hapuku
• Flame snapper
• Sea bream snapper
• Jackass morwong
• Bass groper
• Yellowtail kingfish
• Blue-eye trevalla

MANAGEMENT PLANS/ARRANGEMENTS

High Seas Permits allow Australian flagged vessels to fish for non-highly migratory species in the areas of water covered under South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation and the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement.

High Seas Permits are granted by season which lasts from 1 January to 31 December. There are currently six High Seas Permits. Six vessels are licensed to fish in the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation area and five vessels are licensed to fish in the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement area. The main gears used by High Seas Permit holders are midwater trawl, demersal trawl and automatic longline (demersal longline).

In 2019 a new conservation and management measure for bottom fishing in the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation Convention area was adopted by the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation Commission. This measure implements a spatial management approach to prevent significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems and establishes a joint fishing footprint for Australian and New Zealand licensed vessels. The measure was introduced through permit conditions in April 2019.

ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE

High Seas Permits continue to be managed consistent with conservation and management measures applying under the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation and the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement.