Fisheries (Abalone) Rules 2017

If the holder of a fishing licence (abalone dive) intends to take blacklip abalone in the Bass Strait area on a fishing trip, he or she, subject to subrules (2) and (4) – must start and end that fishing trip within the Bass Strait area; and must not enter State waters that are not within the Bass Strait area. Grade 3 penalty.

The holder of a fishing licence (abalone dive) intending to take blacklip abalone in the Bass Strait area on a fishing trip may start the fishing trip from outside that area if – the holder undertakes the fishing trip on a mother boat; and the holder completes a prior fishing report before the mother boat leaves port commencing that fishing trip; and no abalone is on the mother boat before it enters the Bass Strait area; and the supervisor of the fishing licence (vessel) under which the mother boat is authorised to carry abalone has completed a leaving port report; and all fishing vessels and auxiliary vessels on that mother boat are securely fastened for the duration of the fishing trip while the mother boat is in any State waters other than the Bass Strait area; and the mother boat on which the fishing trip is undertaken is fitted with a vessel monitoring system.

If the holder of a fishing licence (abalone dive) on a fishing trip, intends to take, or takes, blacklip abalone from the Bass Strait area, he or she must not dive, swim or take abalone on that fishing trip in State waters that are not within the Bass Strait area. Grade 3 penalty.

If during a fishing trip the holder of a fishing licence (abalone dive) has taken blacklip abalone in the Bass Strait area, the holder may enter State waters not within that area if – the holder is undertaking the fishing trip on a mother boat; and the supervisor of the fishing licence (vessel) under which the mother boat is authorised to carry abalone has completed a leaving area report; and if the mother boat leaves the Bass Strait area at the eastern boundary of the Bass Strait area at an imaginary line beginning where the line of longitude 147° 27’ 00” East meets the high-water mark of the north coast of the mainland of Tasmania in Anderson Bay, then running due north until its junction with the line of latitude 40° 39’ South, then due east along that line of latitude to the limit of State waters, the mother boat – completes that fishing trip north of an imaginary line running east from the tip of St Helens Point to the outer limit of State waters, or within the waters of Georges Bay; and does not enter State waters south of that line running east from St Helens Point other than Georges Bay; and if the mother boat leaves the Bass Strait area at the western boundary of the Bass Strait area, the mother boat – completes that fishing trip within the waters of the northern blacklip area; and does not enter State waters that are not within the northern blacklip area; and the mother boat proceeds directly to the site of unloading after leaving the Bass Strait area; and all fishing vessels and auxiliary vessels on that mother boat are securely fastened for the duration of the fishing trip while the mother boat is in any State waters other than the Bass Strait area; and the mother boat on which the fishing trip is undertaken is fitted with a vessel monitoring system.

The holder of a fishing licence (abalone dive) must not take blacklip abalone in the Bass Strait area on a fishing trip unless the intention to take those abalone is stated in the prior fishing report relating to that fishing trip. Grade 3 penalty.