Notice of dates of the closed seasons for Garfish (family Hemiramphidae)

​​​I, Dr Ian Dutton, General Manager (Marine Resources) in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, acting pursuant to a delegation from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water made on 13 July 2022 and acting pursuant to section 20(1) of the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 (the Act), hereby determine under rule 11(1)(c) of the Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2015 (the Rules):

A.    That the dates of the closed season for that part of the Scalefish fishery specified in schedule 1 are from:

• 15 November 2022 to 14 December 2022 inclusive;
• 15 November 2023 to 14 December 2023 inclusive;
• 15 November 2024 to 14 December 2024 inclusive; and,

B.    That the dates of the closed season for that part of the Scalefish fishery specified in schedule 2 are from:

• 15 January 2023 to 14 February 2023 inclusive;
• 15 January 2024 to 14 February 2024 inclusive;
• 15 January 2025 to 14 February 2025 inclusive; and

C. That the parts of the Scalefish fishery specified in schedule 1 and schedule 2 are closed to, or in respect of, the activities specified in schedule 3.

SCHEDULE 1

All that part of the Scalefish Fishery in State waters adjacent to the east, west and south coasts of Tasmania south of:

(a) in the west, an imaginary line starting at Cape Grim and then running due west along the line of latitude at 40°40'S to the limit of State waters; and

(b) in the east, an imaginary line starting at Cape Naturaliste and then running due east along the line of latitude at 40°50'S to the limit of State waters.

SCHEDULE 2

All that part of the Scalefish Fishery in State waters adjacent to the north coast of Tasmania and in Bass Strait north of:

​(a) in the west, an imaginary line starting at Cape Grim and then running due west along the line of latitude at 40°40'S to the limit of State waters; and

(b) in the east, an imaginary line starting at Cape Naturaliste and then running due east along the line of latitude at 40°50'S to the limit of State waters.

SCHEDULE 3

The take or possession of all species of garfish (family Hemiramphidae).

Any expression used in this public notice having a particular meaning under the Act or the Rules has the same meaning in this public notice as it has in the Act or the   Rules.

Dated at HOBART this 25th day of October 2022.

Dr Ian Dutton

GENERAL MANAGER (MARINE RESOURCES)

INFORMATION

(This information does not form part of the notice)

These closures are a precautionary measure aiming to restrain catch and limit disturbance during part of the peak spawning activity to help maintain garfish stocks into the future.

No person may take or be in possession of any species of garfish of the family Hemiramphidae in State waters during the closed period. The closure applies to all garfish species for effective compliance purposes.

Please contact the Wild Fisheries Management Branch on (03) 6165 3000 if you require further information.