Total allowable catch and fishing effort determinations

Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

A Total Allowable Catch or ‘TAC’ is the maximum amount of a particular fish species that can be taken by commercial fishers during a fishing period.

A TAC is determined for each catch quota managed species in NSW for each new fishing period and a share of the TAC is allocated (as quota) to owners of species quota shares in proportion to the number of shares they hold.

The species that currently have TACs in NSW fisheries are:

Ocean Trawl Fishery	Bluespotted flathead Tiger flathead Eastern school whiting/Stout whiting (combined) Silver trevally Gemfish
Ocean Trap & Line	Gemfish Bass grouper Blue eye trevalla Hapuku Pink ling Bigeye ocean perch Spanner crab
Ocean Hauling	Australian sardine Blue mackerel Yellowtail scad Eastern sea garfish
Estuary General	Beachworms Cockles Ghost nipper Pipi Mud crab Blue swimmer crab Longfin river eel and Shortfin river eel (combined)
Abalone	Blacklip abalone
Lobster	Eastern rock lobster
Sea Urchin and Turban Shell	Red sea urchin

Total Allowable Fishing Effort (TAE)

Similar to a TAC, a TAE is the maximum amount of fishing effort (e.g. days) that can be used by commercial fishers during a fishing period.

A TAE is determined for each fishing effort quota managed fishery in NSW for each new fishing period and a share of the TAE is allocated (as days) to owners of relevant shares in proportion to the number of shares they hold.

The fisheries that currently have TAEs in NSW fisheries are:

Ocean Trawl Fishery	Ocean trawl – inshore prawn Ocean trawl – offshore prawn
Estuary General	Meshing Category One Hauling Category Two Hauling

Who makes TAC and TAE determinations?

For Lobster, Abalone and Red sea urchin, the independent Total Allowable Fishing (TAF) Committee makes a TAC determination for each new fishing period.

For other quota managed species, the Minister directs either the TAF Committee or the Secretary of the Department of Regional NSW to make a TAC or TAE determination.

The TAF Committee consists of four members and two deputy members.

Independent Chairperson (Mr William Zacharin)
Natural Resource Economist (Dr Daryl McPhee)
Deputy Natural Resource Economist (Dr Julian Morison)
Fisheries Scientist (Dr Lorne “Richard” Little)
Deputy Fisheries Scientist (Mr Andrew Penney)
Fisheries Manager (Dr Nick Rayns)

Information on TAC and TAE determinations for the 2021/22 fishing period can be found here (PDF, 4506.45 KB)

TAC and TAE Determinations

TAC and TAE Determinations are notified by publication in the NSW Government Gazette before commencement of each fishing period.

TAC and TAE Determination Reports

When the TAF Committee makes a TAC / TAE determination, the Committee provides a Determination Report that explains the reasons for their determination.