THE HON SUSSAN LEY MP
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
SENATOR THE HON JONNO DUNIAM
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
Friday 4 March 2022
TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABLE MARINE MANAGEMENT
The Morrison Government is providing $5.5 million to support commercial fishers and protect Australian marine parks from illegal fishing.
Funding through the Fisheries Assistance and User Engagement Package will help fishers meet the costs of new electronic and vessel monitoring systems (EVMS) that will allow crews and licensees to receive real time alerts should their vessel encroach a sensitive marine area.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the Parks Australia funding would help fishers avoid accidental incursions into areas where particularfishing methods may not be permitted.
“We are working with industry to support both its future sustainability and that of our precious marine ecosystems,” Minister Ley said.
“We will fund more than 1000 new EVMS units, a further 200 upgrades to existing equipment and over 60 e-monitoring units to support compliance in Australian Marine Parks.
“Existing alert systems show that accidental incursions can happen and that where there is clear information and monitoring, fishers abide by the rules in a responsible way.”
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Jonathon Duniam, said that EVMS technology reinforces community confidence that Australia’s commercial fishing is using world’s best practice.
“In the 2020-21 financial year, more than 3,400 alerts to Australian Marine Park users prevented illegal incursions and just 13 of those required further investigation,” Senator Duniam said.
“Through this funding, which will be distributed through the states and the Northern Territory, we are reducing the cost of compliance and protecting the long-term futures of all involved.”
Parks Australia is responsible for managing and ensuring compliance in 58 Australian Marine Parks located within Commonwealth waters.