Stock Status of Target Species

Management Plans/Arrangements

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery is managed in accordance with the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery Management Plan 2002 and the conservation measures mandated by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. All operations conducted in the fishery were compliant with the performance criteria outlined in the management plan. As at June 2020 four boats operated in the fishery during 2019-20. Three of these boats longlined and one boat both trawled and longlined. There were no changes to the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery Management Plan 2002 during 2019-20.

Analysis of Performance

Performance – status of fish stocks

In November 2019, the AFMA Commission set the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery total allowable catch at 3,030 tonnes for Patagonian toothfish and 527 tonnes for Mackerel icefish for the 2019-20 fishing year. Commissioners recognised that the total allowable catch had also been agreed to by the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (to which Australia is a member), and that this catch limit is not expected to unreasonably impact on long term sustainability of Patagonian toothfish stocks.

The Sub-Antarctic Resource Assessment Group and Sub-Antarctic Management Advisory Committee also supported the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery total allowable catches for the 2019-20 fishing year.

Performance – status of bycatch

The core longline fishing season extends from 1 May to 14 September. In 2019, longlining was permitted from 1 April 2019 to 30 November 2019 with additional seabird measures applying to the periods outside the core longline season. Strict rules are in place around interactions with seabirds during the autumn and spring extension periods, when seabird activity is known to increase around Heard Island and McDonald Islands. If three or more seabirds are caught and killed by fishing gear during the extension periods, that vessel can no longer fish by longline in the extension periods. One boat triggered this provision in
2019-20.

Bycatch is generally low in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery and catch limits were not exceeded in 2019-20.

External Reviews

Management of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery is reviewed internationally by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic and Marine Living Resources meet each year and, among other things, considers catch limits and bycatch management for the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery.

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery stock assessment for Patagonian toothfish is considered and endorsed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. The management of the fishery is certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. A surveillance audit was conducted in April 2020 and confirmed the fishery continues to meet the Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Standard.