Open for Comment

NSW Commercial Fisheries Business Efficiency Program

The NSW Commercial Fisheries Business Efficiency Program (BEP) provides for changes to improve the performance in the NSW commercial fishing industry now that new ways of managing commercial catch apply.

The BEP will remove red-tape, deliver efficiencies for government, and improve the economic performance of the industry while mitigating substantive change to the sharing or sustainability of fisheries resources in NSW.

What has happened?

The NSW Commercial Fisheries Business Adjustment Program (BAP) – also known as the reform program – has changed the way commercial fishing in NSW is managed.

Commercial fishery shares are now linked to resource access, strengthening fishers’ access to fisheries resources, improving control over long-term commercial catch, and providing an opportunity to review and remove controls that are outdated.

As a consequence of the BAP, in NSW:

Ongoing review of the performance of fisheries, including the TACs and TAEs that apply, by the independent Total Allowable Fishing Committee or the Secretary of the Department of Regional NSW will ensure that there are processes in place to manage the fishery resources of the State so they are conserved, developed, and shared appropriately for the benefit of present and future generations.

The BEP process

NSW DPI received over 800 proposals from the community, including commercial fishers, on ways to help improve the performance in the NSW commercial fishing industry now that new ways of managing commercial catch apply.