Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

DECLARATION OF AN APPROVED WILDLIFE TRADE OPERATION – QUEENSLAND LINE FisherY (REEF), MARCH 2025

I, JESSICA HOEY, Director, Sustainable Fisheries Section, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water, hereby vary under paragraph 303FT(7)(b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the declaration of an approved wildlife trade operation dated 17 January 2024 for the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef) as defined in the management regime in force under the:

• Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld)

• Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 (Qld)
• Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019 (Qld)
• Fisheries Declaration 2019 (Qld)
• Fisheries Quota Declaration 2019 (Qld)

such that condition 5 specified in Schedule 1 to that declaration is varied as follows:

In Condition 5, delete the words:

“By 31 July 2025, the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) must publish an updated stock assessment for saddletail snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus). Until the stock assessment has been completed, QDAF must monitor catches and take immediate action to avoid overfishing if the stock is found to reach the limit reference point (20% unfished biomass) as defined in the harvest strategy for the fishery.”

and replace with the words:

“The Queensland Department of Primary Industries must:

1.       by 5 December 2025, provide the results of an updated stock assessment for saddletail snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) in the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef) to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
2.       by 31 March 2026, publish the updated stock assessment for saddletail snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) in the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef).
3.        until the stock assessment has been completed, monitor catches and take immediate action to avoid overfishing if the stock is found to reach the limit reference point (20% unfished biomass) as defined in the harvest strategy for the Queensland Line Fishery (Reef).”

Dated this 14 day of March 2025

……………….JESSICA HOEY………………….........

Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Water

Notes:

Under the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, a person whose interests are affected by this decision may apply for a statement of reasons and for independent review of the decision. An application for a statement of reasons may be made in writing to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water within 28 days of the date of the declaration. An application for independent review may be made to the Administrative Review Tribunal on payment of the relevant fee within 28 days of the date of the declaration, or if reasons are sought, within 28 days of receipt of reasons. Further information may be obtained from the Director, Sustainable Fisheries Section, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Email: sustainablefisheries@dcceew.gov.au.