Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy: Policy and Guidelines

The harvest strategy policy and associated implementation guidelines was developed by the Australian Government in 2007. The aim was to ensure that key commercial fish species are managed for long -- term biological sustainability and economic profitability. It also seeks to provide the fishing industry with a more certain operating environment. The harvest strategy policy provides a framework that allows a strategic, science -- based approach to setting total allowable catch levels in all Commonwealth fisheries on a fishery by fishery basis. The implementation guidelines provide practical advice on how to interpret and apply the harvest strategy policy to Australia's fisheries and contain details of the science behind the fisheries management decisions. After the policy was issued in September 2007, the then minister required the Australian Fisheries Management Authority to implement harvest strategies in all relevant Commonwealth fisheries by January 2008