Developmental & exploratory fisheries in QLD | Developmental fishery process | Contacts

Developmental fisheries process

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) uses a step by step process to assess and progress developmental fishery applications. Refer to the summarized version of steps below. 

Note that the Policy for the Management of Developmental Fishing outlines the complete process and the summary below should be treated as a guide only.

Step 1

DPI&F receives an application form, application fee and detailed information on the proposed fishery operation (species, location, apparatus, market, approximate quantities sought etc.)

Step 2

DPI&F decides to:

1. proceed with assessment of the proposal:
2. not proceed with assessment of the proposal; or 
3. request more information on the proposal from the applicants 

Step 3

If the DPI&F proceeds with the proposal and the information submitted is considered sufficient, the application is advertised for public comment.

Public comments are collated and applicants are given the opportunity to review them and provide further comment to DPI&F.

Step 4

A Management and Scientific Advisory Committee (MSAC) established by the DPI&F consisting of managers, scientists, compliance officers and other relevant persons, meets to review the proposal and all relevant information. 

The MSAC makes a recommendation to the DPI&F on whether or not the fishery should proceed and if so, what conditions should apply to any permits issued to applicants.

DPI&F decides whether or not to go ahead with the developmental fishery, taking into account all available information and the MSAC's recommendation.

Step 5

DPI&F decides which, if any, application(s) should be approved.

Prior to approval, those applications must proceed through Native Title notification (approx 6 weeks). Submissions received form Native Title interests must be considered in deciding the application and conditions that will apply to any permit that is issued.

Step 6

Permit(s) issued. The successful applicant(s) are consulted to finalise permit conditions and management arrangements for the fishery.

Successful developmental fisheries then operate for 3 to 5 years while an assessment is made on the sustainability and viability of the operation, taking into account information obtained through data collection programs including the DPI&F Observer Program and other scientific assessments.

Step 7

After 3 to 5 years of operation, DPI&F undertakes a full assessment and decides whether or not the fishery is sustainable and viable. 

If a determination cannot be made in the required timeframe, the DPI&F may decide to continue the fishery in a developmental state so that more information can be gathered for a proper assessment.

If the DPI&F determines that the fishery is sustainable and viable, the DPI&F will seek legislative changes to commercialise the fishery. Appropriate operators will then be selected to obtain licences for the fishery.

If the DPI&F determines that the fishery is not sustainable and viable, the program will be discontinued. The DPI&F may decide to close the fishery to further operation (through legislation) or may take no legislative action and therefore be required to accept and consider any future applications for developmental fishing of the same nature.

Last reviewed 15 January 2007