Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 1998

Version: 1.9.2013 [30.8.2013] This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 1 South Australia Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013 under the Fisheries Management Act 2007 Contents 1 Short title 2 Commencement 3 Interpretation 4 Constitution of fishery 5 Issue of licences 6 Transfer of licence 7 Registration 8 Revocation of registration 9 Blue crab pot entitlements and carriage of crab pots on boats 10 Individual blue crab catch quota system 11 Catch and disposal records 12 Periodic returns Schedule 1—Aquatic resources prescribed for Blue Crab Fishery Part 1—Aquatic resources prescribed for purposes of regulation 4(2)(a) Part 2—Aquatic resources prescribed for purposes of regulation 4(2)(b) Schedule 2—Revocation of regulations 1 Revocation of Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 1998 Legislative history 1—Short title These regulations may be cited as the Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013. 2—Commencement These regulations will come into operation on 1 September 2013. 3—Interpretation (1) In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears— Act means the Fisheries Management Act 2007; blue crab means Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus); http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx?action=legref&type=act&legtitle=Fisheries%20Management%20Act%202007 Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013—1.9.2013 2 This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 [30.8.2013] blue crab fishing zone means— (a) the Gulf St. Vincent Blue Crab Fishing Zone; or (b) the Spencer Gulf Blue Crab Fishing Zone; blue crab pot entitlement means the maximum number of crab pots that the holder of a licence in respect of the fishery may lawfully use at any one time for the purpose of taking blue crab under the licence; blue crab quota entitlement or quota entitlement, in relation to a licence in respect of the Blue Crab Fishery or a marine scalefish fishery and a blue crab fishing zone, means the maximum number of kilograms of blue crab that may lawfully be taken by the holder of the licence in that zone during a quota period, being the product of— (a) the unit entitlement under the licence in respect of that zone; and (b) the unit value for that zone and that quota period, subject to any variation applying during that quota period; conversion value means the number determined by the Minister to be the conversion value for a blue crab fishing zone and a quota period; Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth; crab pot has the same meaning as in the Fisheries Management (General) Regulations 2007; current company extract means a document prepared by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission from its national database kept under the Corporations Act that contains current details of the following in relation to a company: (a) the company's name; (b) the address of the company's registered office; (c) the date of registration of the company; (d) the State or Territory in which the company is taken to be registered under the Corporations Act; (e) the company's Australian Company Number; (f) whether the company is a proprietary company or a public company; (g) the full name of each director of the company; (h) the full name of each secretary (if any) of the company; Department means the administrative unit of the Public Service responsible, under the Minister, for the administration of the Act; fishery means the Blue Crab Fishery constituted by these regulations; Gulf St. Vincent Blue Crab Fishing Zone means the waters of Gulf St. Vincent north of the geodesic from the location on Mean High Water Springs closest to 35°10′04.74″ South, 137°40′38.64″ East to the location on Mean High Water Springs closest to 35°36′48.51″ South, 138°05′44.01″ East; marine scalefish fishery means the Marine Scalefish Fishery or the Restricted Marine Scalefish Fishery constituted by the Fisheries Management (Marine Scalefish Fisheries) Regulations 2006; http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx?action=legref&type=subordleg&legtitle=Fisheries%20Management%20(General)%20Regulations%202007 http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx?action=legref&type=subordleg&legtitle=Fisheries%20Management%20(General)%20Regulations%202007 http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx?action=legref&type=subordleg&legtitle=Fisheries%20Management%20(Marine%20Scalefish%20Fisheries)%20Regulations%202006 http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx?action=legref&type=subordleg&legtitle=Fisheries%20Management%20(Marine%20Scalefish%20Fisheries)%20Regulations%202006 1.9.2013—Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013 [30.8.2013] This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 3 Mean High Water Springs means the line representing the average of all high water observations at the time of spring tide over a period of 19 years; quota period—a quota period for the fishery is a period of 12 months commencing on 1 July; Spencer Gulf Blue Crab Fishing Zone means the waters of Spencer Gulf north of the geodesic from the location on Mean High Water Springs closest to 34°26′45.00″ South, 136°06′57.58″ East to the location on Mean High Water Springs closest to 34°26′45.00″ South, 137°24′59.26″ East; unit entitlement, in relation to a licence in respect of the Blue Crab Fishery or a marine scalefish fishery and a blue crab fishing zone, means the number of blue crab units for the time being allocated to the licence in respect of that zone; unit value means the number of kilograms of blue crab determined by the Minister to be the value of a blue crab unit for a blue crab fishing zone and a quota period. (2) In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears, company, director, proprietary company and public company have the same respective meanings as in the Corporations Act. (3) In these regulations— (a) all lines in spatial descriptions are geodesics based on the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) as defined in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette GN35 of 6 September 1995, and all coordinates are expressed in terms of GDA94; (b) common and scientific fish names are given according to AS:SSA-001 Australian Fish Names Standard published by Seafood Services Australia in July 2007, as amended from time to time; (c) a reference to the taking of aquatic resources includes a reference to an act preparatory to or involved in the taking of the aquatic resources. 4—Constitution of fishery (1) The Blue Crab Fishery is constituted. (2) The fishery consists of the taking, in the waters of the blue crab fishing zones— (a) of aquatic resources specified in Schedule 1 Part 1; and (b) of aquatic resources specified in Schedule 1 Part 2 for the purpose of bait. (3) The Minister may impose a condition on a licence in respect of the fishery that limits the holder of the licence to the taking of aquatic resources in the waters of the Gulf St. Vincent Blue Crab Fishing Zone or the Spencer Gulf Blue Crab Fishing Zone. 5—Issue of licences (1) Subject to this regulation, the Minister may issue licences in respect of the fishery. (2) An application for a licence in respect of the fishery may only be made by a person who holds a licence in respect of the Marine Scalefish Fishery subject to a condition fixing a blue crab quota entitlement. Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013—1.9.2013 4 This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 [30.8.2013] (3) The Minister may only grant an application for a licence in respect of the fishery— (a) if the applicant's licence in respect of the Marine Scalefish Fishery has been surrendered; and (b) if a boat registered for use under that licence is the subject of, is registered for use under, or is otherwise referred to in, a licence, permit, authority or other entitlement to take aquatic resources granted under a law of the Commonwealth or a corresponding law—that entitlement has also been surrendered. 6—Transfer of licence (1) Licences in respect of the fishery are transferable. (2) An application for consent to the transfer of a licence must be accompanied by— (a) the licence to be transferred; and (b) a form of return as required by regulation 12 completed by the holder of the licence up to the date of application; and (c) if the transferee is a company—a current company extract relating to the transferee issued not more than 1 month immediately preceding the date of application. (3) The Minister may only consent to the transfer of a licence if satisfied as to the following: (a) that any fees or other amounts payable in relation to the licence under the Act or the repealed Act have been paid in full; (b) that the licence to be transferred has not been suspended; (c) that no proceedings alleging an offence against the Act or the repealed Act are pending or likely to be commenced in the State against the holder of the licence; (d) if the transferee is a natural person, that the transferee is at least 15 years of age and is a fit and proper person to hold a licence in respect of the fishery; (e) if the transferee is a company, that each director of the company is a fit and proper person to be a director of a company that holds a licence in respect of the fishery; (f) if a boat registered for use under the licence is the subject of, is registered for use under, or is otherwise referred to in, a licence, permit, authority or other entitlement to take aquatic resources granted under a law of the Commonwealth or a corresponding law— (i) that the entitlement is either to be transferred together with the licence to the transferee or to be surrendered on or before the transfer of the licence; or (ii) that— (A) the transfer of the licence separately from the entitlement is not likely to result in fishing activities that over-exploit or endanger the aquatic resources of the State; and 1.9.2013—Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013 [30.8.2013] This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 5 (B) the person or body that granted the entitlement concurs with the separate transfer of the licence. 7—Registration An application by the holder of a licence in respect of the fishery— (a) to register a boat or device for use under the licence; or (b) to register a person as a master of a boat that may be used under the licence, must be accompanied by the documents specified in the application form. 8—Revocation of registration (1) The Minister may, on application by the holder of a licence in respect of the fishery, revoke the registration of— (a) a boat or device used under the licence; or (b) a person as a master of a boat that may be used under the licence. (2) An application for revocation of registration must— (a) be made in a manner and form approved by the Minister; and (b) be signed by the applicant and completed in accordance with the instructions contained in the form; and (c) be accompanied by the documents specified in the application form. 9—Blue crab pot entitlements and carriage of crab pots on boats (1) The Minister must, on or before the commencement of each quota period, determine the conversion value for a blue crab fishing zone and the quota period. (2) The Minister may impose or vary conditions on licences in respect of the fishery fixing blue crab pot entitlements as follows: (a) on the issue of a licence in respect of the fishery, a condition must be imposed on the licence fixing a blue crab pot entitlement calculated in accordance with the formula set out in subregulation (3); (b) on the variation of a blue crab quota entitlement under a licence in respect of the fishery, the conditions of the licence must be varied so that the blue crab pot entitlement under the licence, as calculated in accordance with the formula set out in subregulation (3), reflects the variation in the unit entitlement under the licence; (c) blue crab pot entitlements must not be varied except as provided by this subregulation. (3) For the purposes of subregulation (2), the formula for calculating the blue crab pot entitlement under a licence is as follows: B A C  where— A is the blue crab pot entitlement expressed as a whole number (a number having a fraction of half or more being rounded up to the next whole number); Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013—1.9.2013 6 This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 [30.8.2013] B is the unit entitlement under the licence; C is the conversion value for the blue crab fishing zone to which the unit entitlement under the licence relates. (4) The Minister may impose conditions on licences in respect of the fishery limiting the number of crab pots that may be carried on boats and otherwise regulating the carrying of crab pots used for fishing activities under the licences. 10—Individual blue crab catch quota system (1) The Minister must, on or before the commencement of each quota period, determine the number of kilograms of blue crab that is to be the value of a blue crab unit for a blue crab fishing zone and the quota period. (2) The Minister may impose or vary conditions on licences in respect of the Blue Crab Fishery or a marine scalefish fishery fixing blue crab quota entitlements as follows: (a) on the issue of a licence in respect of the Blue Crab Fishery (a new licence), the licence may be allocated a number of blue crab units in respect of a blue crab fishing zone equal to the number of blue crab units in respect of that zone that was, immediately before the surrender of the licence in respect of the Marine Scalefish Fishery held by the applicant for the new licence, the subject of a condition of the licence in respect of the Marine Scalefish Fishery; (b) on joint application made to the Minister by the holders of any 2 licences in respect of the Blue Crab Fishery subject to a condition fixing a blue crab quota entitlement in respect of the same blue crab fishing zone, the conditions of the licences may be varied so as to increase the unit entitlement in respect of that zone under 1 of the licences and decrease the unit entitlement in respect of that zone under the other licence by a corresponding number of units; (c) on joint application made to the Minister by the holder of a licence in respect of the Blue Crab Fishery subject to a condition fixing a blue crab quota entitlement in respect of a particular blue crab fishing zone (the first licence) and the holder of a licence in respect of a marine scalefish fishery subject to a condition fixing a blue crab quota entitlement in respect of the same zone (the second licence)— (i) the conditions of the first licence may be varied so as to decrease the unit entitlement under that licence in respect of that zone and the conditions of the second licence may be varied so as to increase the unit entitlement under that licence in respect of that zone by a corresponding number of units; or (ii) the conditions of the first licence may be varied so as to increase the unit entitlement under that licence in respect of that zone and the conditions of the second licence may be varied so as to decrease the unit entitlement under that licence in respect of that zone by a corresponding number of units; 1.9.2013—Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013 [30.8.2013] This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 7 (d) on joint application made to the Minister by the holder of a licence in respect of the Blue Crab Fishery subject to a condition fixing a blue crab quota entitlement in respect of a particular blue crab fishing zone (the first licence) and the holder of a licence in respect of a marine scalefish fishery not subject to a condition fixing a blue crab quota entitlement (the second licence)— (i) the conditions of the first licence may be varied so as to decrease the unit entitlement under that licence in respect of that zone; and (ii) a corresponding number of units may be allocated to the second licence and a condition fixing a blue crab quota entitlement in respect of that zone may be imposed on that licence; (e) if the total catch of blue crab taken by the holder of a licence in respect of the Blue Crab Fishery during a quota period exceeded the blue crab quota entitlement under the licence for that quota period, the conditions of the licence may be varied so as to decrease the quota entitlement— (i) if the catch exceeded the quota entitlement by not more than 20 kilograms of blue crab—by 1 kilogram for each kilogram taken in excess of the quota entitlement; or (ii) if the catch exceeded the quota entitlement by more than 20 kilograms but not more than 50 kilograms of blue crab—by 2 kilograms for each kilogram taken in excess of the quota entitlement; (f) if— (i) the holder of a licence in respect of the fishery is convicted of an offence of contravening a condition of the licence fixing a blue crab quota entitlement; and (ii) the conduct constituting the offence involved the taking of more than 50 kilograms of blue crab in excess of the quota entitlement, the conditions of the licence may be varied so as to reduce the blue crab quota entitlement under the licence for 3 quota periods following the conviction by 1 kilogram for each kilogram taken in excess of the quota entitlement for the quota period during which the offence was committed; (g) a variation of a quota entitlement under paragraph (e) must be expressed to apply only for the quota period during which the variation is made. (3) An application to vary unit entitlements must— (a) be made in a manner and form approved by the Minister; and (b) be signed by the applicants and completed in accordance with the instructions contained in the form; and (c) be accompanied by the appropriate fee fixed by the Fisheries Management (Fees) Regulations 2007. 11—Catch and disposal records (1) In this regulation— CDR book means a book issued by the Department containing blank forms BSCF1; http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx?action=legref&type=subordleg&legtitle=Fisheries%20Management%20(Fees)%20Regulations%202007 http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx?action=legref&type=subordleg&legtitle=Fisheries%20Management%20(Fees)%20Regulations%202007 Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013—1.9.2013 8 This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 [30.8.2013] form BSCF1 means the document produced by the Department entitled BSCF1 Primary Industries (S.A.) Fisheries Blue Crab Catch and Disposal Record. (2) The holder of a licence in respect of the fishery or registered master of a boat from which blue crab is taken under such a licence must comply with the following provisions: (a) immediately on landing blue crab taken under the licence he or she must weigh the crabs on accurate scales and complete Part A of form BSCF1 using a blue or black ballpoint pen; (b) he or she must cause the crabs to which the completed Part A of that form relates to be transported to the registered premises of the registered fish processor specified on the form, together with the white, blue and green copies of the completed form; (c) he or she must complete forms BSCF1 in consecutive ascending order and complete all forms in a CDR book before commencing to use a new CDR book; (d) he or she must ensure that the yellow copies of forms BSCF1 and the CDR book are kept on board the registered boat until the CDR book is completed; (e) he or she must deliver a completed CDR book to the Minister within 14 days of its completion. (3) If a provision of subregulation (2) is not complied with, the holder of the licence is guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty: $5 000. 12—Periodic returns (1) The holder of a licence in respect of the fishery must— (a) complete a return, in a form determined by the Minister, in respect of each calendar month during the currency of the licence; and (b) include in the return such information as the Minister requires; and (c) date and sign the return and certify that the information contained in the return is complete and accurate, and post or deliver the return to the Minister within 15 days of the end of the month to which it relates. Maximum penalty: $5 000. Expiation fee: $315. (2) If the holder of a licence takes no aquatic resources during a particular calendar month, he or she is required by subregulation (1) to furnish a return in respect of that period indicating that no aquatic resources were taken. (3) If the fishery has been closed for a whole calendar month, the holder of a licence need not furnish a return for that month. (4) The holder of a licence must— (a) make a copy of each return that he or she completes under this regulation before the return is sent or delivered to the Minister; and 1.9.2013—Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013 [30.8.2013] This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 9 (b) retain a copy for the period of 1 year from the last day of the month to which the return relates. Maximum penalty: $5 000. Expiation fee: $315. Schedule 1—Aquatic resources prescribed for Blue Crab Fishery Part 1—Aquatic resources prescribed for purposes of regulation 4(2)(a) Crustaceans Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus) Rock Crab (Nectocarcinus integrifons) Spider Crab (Family Majidae) Velvet Crab (Nectocarcinus tuberculosus) Part 2—Aquatic resources prescribed for purposes of regulation 4(2)(b) Molluscs Octopus (Octopus spp) Gould's Squid (Nototodarus gouldii) Scalefish Australian Anchovy (Engraulis australis) Barracouta (Thyrsites atun) Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) Cod (marine species) (Family Moridae) Flathead (Family Platycephalidae) Flounder (Family Bothidae or Pleuronectidae) Bluespotted Goatfish (Upeneichthys vlamingii) Eastern Striped Grunter (Pelates sexlineatus) Australian Herring (Arripis georgianus) Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi) Leatherjacket (Family Monacanthidae) Blue Mackerel (Scomber australasicus) Common Jack Mackerel (Trachurus declivis) Morwong (Family Cheilodactylidae) Mullet of all species (Family Mugilidae) Mulloway (Argyrosomus hololepidotus) West Australian Salmon (Arripis truttaceus) Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013—1.9.2013 Schedule 1—Aquatic resources prescribed for Blue Crab Fishery 10 This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 [30.8.2013] Australian Sardine (Sardinops sagax) Snook (Sphyraena novaehollandiae) Southern Sole (Aseraggodes haackeanus) Sea Sweep (Scorpis aequipinnis) Trevally (Caranginae spp) Bluethroat Wrasse (Notolabrus tetricus) Sharks Rays of all species (Class Elasmobranchii) Shark of all species (Class Elasmobranchii) other than White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) Skate of all species (Class Elasmobranchii) Schedule 2—Revocation of regulations 1—Revocation of Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 1998 The Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 1998 are revoked. http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx?action=legref&type=subordleg&legtitle=Fisheries%20Management%20(Blue%20Crab%20Fishery)%20Regulations%201998 1.9.2013—Fisheries Management (Blue Crab Fishery) Regulations 2013 Legislative history [30.8.2013] This version is not published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002 11 Legislative history Notes • For further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au. Principal regulations Year No Reference Commencement 2013 214 Gazette 29.8.2013 p3664 1.9.2013: r 2