2023 offshore greenhouse gas storage acreage release: nominated areas for comment

WAFIC is the peak industry body representing commercial fishing, pearling, and aquaculture enterprises, processors, and exporters in Western Australia (WA). It works in partnership with Government to secure a responsible and sustainable industry, set management directions and provides advocacy and representation on significant matters affecting WA’s commercial fishing industry.

The commercial fishing industry is the largest group of stakeholders to potentially be impacted by the 2023 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release. Offshore exploration activities have the potential to significantly affect commercially important aquatic organisms, their prey and habitats, the business activities and livelihoods of commercial fishers, and food security for the broader community. There are a diverse range of aquatic resources within the proposed exploration area that support a wide range of state-managed commercial fisheries. These fisheries target a variety of high-value species including finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms which supply the Australian seafood market and support regional economies.

Proponents have a responsibility to be accountable for the impacts they impose on commercial fishers, including proposed mitigation measures to ensure impacts are acceptable and as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). This should be informed through a thorough consultation process in which the functions, interests and activities of the commercial fishing industry are genuinely considered.

Proponents must also be responsible for conducting an up-to-date scientific literature review on relevant fisheries and key indicator species, fish biology and spawning behaviour, seasonal patterns, stock assessment status, catch and effort data, baseline aquatic environment data and any other relevant information. The commercial fishing industry objects to seismic surveys during peak spawning periods for key indicator species. If the titleholder cannot avoid peak spawning periods, the titleholder must demonstrate, using scientific published peer reviewed literature, why the chosen timing and location will have no adverse impacts on the commercial fishing industry and aquatic environment.

This offshore area is already host to extensive exploration activities and industrial infrastructure. WAFIC expects that any new exploration activities will consider the cumulative impacts on aquatic organisms and environments, and the likelihood of fishing displacement. The suitability of activity timing must also avoid peak spawning and fishing periods to ensure impacts to the fishing industry are ALARP.

Proponents must commit to a loss adjustment protocol for commercial fishers whose functions, interests or activities are impacted by an exploration activity.

WAFIC is the peak industry body representing commercial fishing, pearling, and aquaculture enterprises, processors, and exporters in Western Australia (WA). It works in partnership with Government to secure a responsible and sustainable industry, set management directions and provides advocacy and representation on significant matters affecting WA’s commercial fishing industry.

The commercial fishing industry is the largest group of stakeholders to potentially be impacted by the 2023 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release. Offshore exploration activities have the potential to significantly affect commercially important aquatic organisms, their prey and habitats, the business activities and livelihoods of commercial fishers, and food security for the broader community. There are a diverse range of aquatic resources within the proposed exploration area that support a wide range of state-managed commercial fisheries. These fisheries target a variety of high-value species including finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms which supply the Australian seafood market and support regional economies.

Proponents have a responsibility to be accountable for the impacts they impose on commercial fishers, including proposed mitigation measures to ensure impacts are acceptable and as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). This should be informed through a thorough consultation process in which the functions, interests and activities of the commercial fishing industry are genuinely considered.

Proponents must also be responsible for conducting an up-to-date scientific literature review on relevant fisheries and key indicator species, fish biology and spawning behaviour, seasonal patterns, stock assessment status, catch and effort data, baseline aquatic environment data and any other relevant information. The commercial fishing industry objects to seismic surveys during peak spawning periods for key indicator species. If the titleholder cannot avoid peak spawning periods, the titleholder must demonstrate, using scientific published peer reviewed literature, why the chosen timing and location will have no adverse impacts on the commercial fishing industry and aquatic environment.

This offshore area is already host to extensive exploration activities and industrial infrastructure. WAFIC expects that any new exploration activities will consider the cumulative impacts on aquatic organisms and environments, and the likelihood of fishing displacement. The suitability of activity timing must also avoid peak spawning and fishing periods to ensure impacts to the fishing industry are ALARP.

Proponents must commit to a loss adjustment protocol for commercial fishers whose functions, interests or activities are impacted by an exploration activity.

WAFIC is the peak industry body representing commercial fishing, pearling, and aquaculture enterprises, processors, and exporters in Western Australia (WA). It works in partnership with Government to secure a responsible and sustainable industry, set management directions and provides advocacy and representation on significant matters affecting WA’s commercial fishing industry.

The commercial fishing industry is the largest group of stakeholders to potentially be impacted by the 2023 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release. Offshore exploration activities have the potential to significantly affect commercially important aquatic organisms, their prey and habitats, the business activities and livelihoods of commercial fishers, and food security for the broader community. There are a diverse range of aquatic resources within the proposed exploration area that support a wide range of state-managed commercial fisheries. These fisheries target a variety of high-value species including finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms which supply the Australian seafood market and support regional economies.

Proponents have a responsibility to be accountable for the impacts they impose on commercial fishers, including proposed mitigation measures to ensure impacts are acceptable and as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). This should be informed through a thorough consultation process in which the functions, interests and activities of the commercial fishing industry are genuinely considered.

Proponents must also be responsible for conducting an up-to-date scientific literature review on relevant fisheries and key indicator species, fish biology and spawning behaviour, seasonal patterns, stock assessment status, catch and effort data, baseline aquatic environment data and any other relevant information. The commercial fishing industry objects to seismic surveys during peak spawning periods for key indicator species. If the titleholder cannot avoid peak spawning periods, the titleholder must demonstrate, using scientific published peer reviewed literature, why the chosen timing and location will have no adverse impacts on the commercial fishing industry and aquatic environment.

This offshore area is already host to extensive exploration activities and industrial infrastructure. WAFIC expects that any new exploration activities will consider the cumulative impacts on aquatic organisms and environments, and the likelihood of fishing displacement. The suitability of activity timing must also avoid peak spawning and fishing periods to ensure impacts to the fishing industry are ALARP.

Proponents must commit to a loss adjustment protocol for commercial fishers whose functions, interests or activities are impacted by an exploration activity.

WAFIC is the peak industry body representing commercial fishing, pearling, and aquaculture enterprises, processors, and exporters in Western Australia (WA). It works in partnership with Government to secure a responsible and sustainable industry, set management directions and provides advocacy and representation on significant matters affecting WA’s commercial fishing industry.

The commercial fishing industry is the largest group of stakeholders to potentially be impacted by the 2023 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release. Offshore exploration activities have the potential to significantly affect commercially important aquatic organisms, their prey and habitats, the business activities and livelihoods of commercial fishers, and food security for the broader community. There are a diverse range of aquatic resources within the proposed exploration area that support a wide range of state-managed commercial fisheries. These fisheries target a variety of high-value species including finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, and echinoderms which supply the Australian seafood market and support regional economies.

Proponents have a responsibility to be accountable for the impacts they impose on commercial fishers, including proposed mitigation measures to ensure impacts are acceptable and as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). This should be informed through a thorough consultation process in which the functions, interests and activities of the commercial fishing industry are genuinely considered.

Proponents must also be responsible for conducting an up-to-date scientific literature review on relevant fisheries and key indicator species, fish biology and spawning behaviour, seasonal patterns, stock assessment status, catch and effort data, baseline aquatic environment data and any other relevant information. The commercial fishing industry objects to seismic surveys during peak spawning periods for key indicator species. If the titleholder cannot avoid peak spawning periods, the titleholder must demonstrate, using scientific published peer reviewed literature, why the chosen timing and location will have no adverse impacts on the commercial fishing industry and aquatic environment.

This offshore area is already host to extensive exploration activities and industrial infrastructure. WAFIC expects that any new exploration activities will consider the cumulative impacts on aquatic organisms and environments, and the likelihood of fishing displacement. The suitability of activity timing must also avoid peak spawning and fishing periods to ensure impacts to the fishing industry are ALARP.

Proponents must commit to a loss adjustment protocol for commercial fishers whose functions, interests or activities are impacted by an exploration activity.