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February 2008 - I have extended export approval
for the $200 million Southern Bluefin Tuna
fishery for 28 months until mid-2010.
I granted the extension
following an assessment of the sustainability
of the fishery by my Department, who advised
me that the extension will not be detrimental
to the survival or conservation status of
the species in the short term.
Southern bluefin tuna
fisheries are internationally managed by
the Commission for the Conservation of Southern
Bluefin Tuna.
While there are continued
concerns regarding the conservation status
of the southern bluefin tuna, I consider
that the Commission’s recent 21 per cent
reduction of the global total allowable
catch is a significant step forward towards
sustainability.
The fact that Australia’s
component of the global catch was not reduced
by the Commission is a vote of confidence
in Australia’s domestic management of this
fishery.
The Scientific Committee
of the Commission will undertake a new stock
assessment, reporting in late 2009.
The extension of export
approval to mid-2010 recognises that we
will then have available the new stock assessment,
following three years of a reduction in
the total global catch.
I also anticipate advice from my Threatened
Species Scientific Committee by September
2009 on a nomination for the listing of
the southern blue fin tuna under the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act (EPBC Act).
There will be more certainty
of the status of the stocks, including necessary
scientific analysis, to assist in the next
export approval decision in 2010.
Margot Marshall
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR NORTH QUEENSLAND
28 February 2008 - Federal
Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, today
announced nine scholarships for research
projects into environmental challenges facing
north Queensland.
The students will receive
funding of $720,000 over three years under
the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research
Facility Graduate Scholarship Scheme – part
of the $100 million Commonwealth Environment
Research Facilities (CERF) program.
“These research projects
will give us a better understanding of the
environmental pressures on the Wet Tropics
rainforest, the Torres Strait and the Great
Barrier Reef,” Mr Garrett said.
“These are great natural
treasures, and they also make a significant
contribution to the Australian economy.
The Great Barrier Reef alone is worth $6
billion a year, with more than 63,000 jobs
in associated tourism, fishing, cultural
and recreational industries.
“However, these areas
face significant threats from coral bleaching
as well as threats to rainforest biodiversity
from growing population pressures.
“The Australian Government
recognises the urgent need to address these
problems.”
More than $7.6 million
is being allocated in research funding for
2007-08 for projects under the Marine and
Tropical Sciences Research Facility program.
The projects include the development of
a simulation model for the dispersion process
of weeds or invasive species in tropical
landscapes, leading to more effective targeting
of weeds and introduced pests.
Another project is developing
an ‘early warning system’ to help the tourism
industry to prepare protective measures
against the Crown-of-Thorns starfish.
“The stronger and more
conclusive the science and the more extensive
our knowledge on the changes being wrought
by climate change and other pressures on
this fragile environment, the better our
chances of finding effective and timely
solutions,” Mr Garrett said.
Margot Marshall
