Sub-blocks 24A 24B 24C (Mercury Passage) closure to commercial Heliocidaris erythrogramma 9 November 2023 to 31 August 2024

Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995

Fisheries (Commercial Dive) Rules 2021

NOTICE OF THE DATES OF THE CLOSED SEASON FOR A PART OF THE COMMERCIAL DIVE FISHERY

AND

NOTICE OF COMMERCIAL DIVE FISHERY CLOSURE TO SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

I, Dr Ian Dutton, General Manager (Marine Resources) in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, acting pursuant to a delegation from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water hereby determine under rule 12 of the Fisheries (Commercial Dive) Rules 2021 (the Rules):

A. That the dates of the closed season for those parts of the commercial dive fishery specified in schedule 1 are from 12:01 am 9 November 2023 to 11:59 pm 31 August 2024; and

B. That the parts of the commercial dive fishery specified in schedule 1 are closed to, or in respect of, the activities specified in schedule 2.

SCHEDULE 1

All that part of the commercial dive fishery known as the Mercury Passage catch-cap area, being that area of State water (excluding Maria Island Marine Reserve) bounded in the north by an imaginary straight line running due east from the easternmost point of Cape Bougainville to a point at lat 42°30'31"S long 148°04'18"E, then due south to Cape Boullanger, then following the line of high water in an approximately south-west direction to Cape Peron at lat 42°44'32"S long 148'°00'54"E, then running due south to the line of latitude 42°45'58"S, then running due west to the line of high water at lat 42°46'02"S long 147°52'50"E.

SCHEDULE 2

While on a commercial fishing trip in State waters for the purpose of taking shortspined sea urchin (species Heliocidaris erythrogramma) the holder of a fishing licence (commercial dive) must not enter the water by swimming or diving.

Any expression used in this notice having a particular meaning under the Act or the Rules has the same meaning in this notice.  All coordinates of latitude and longitude specified in this notice are to be determined by reference to the Geocentric Datum of Australia (also known as "the GDA" or "GDA94") as defined in the Commonwealth Gazette No. GN 35, 6 September 1995.

Dated at HOBART this 7^th day of November 2023

DR IAN DUTTON

GENERAL MANAGER - MARINE RESOURCES

Information

(This information does not form part of the notice)

This notice has the effect of closing the commercial dive fishery to the take of shortspined sea urchin in the Mercury Passage catch-capped area of the Central-Eastern fishery part, inclusive of sub-blocks 24A, 24B, and 24C, from Thursday 9 November 2023 until the end of season, 31 August 2024. This is part of arrangements to control the total amount of shortspined sea urchins harvested in the interest of resource sustainability.​

Department of Natural Resources and Environment - modified: 9 November 2023, expires: 31 August 2024