Designated fishing activities

What is a designated fishing activity?

Designated fishing activities include commercial fishing activities relating to particular methods and/or locations including fish stocking.

How do you apply for approval?

Before a designated fishing activity can be undertaken, approval is needed from the Minister for Primary Industries.

Anyone who wishes to undertake a designated fishing activity needs to prepare a draft fishery management plan (which includes assessment of cumulative environmental impacts) and an environmental impact statement.

Following public exhibition of these documents, the department assesses the project and provides a report to the Minister for Primary Industries, who makes a decision on the proposal. If the Minister for Primary Industries is the proponent of the designated fishing activity, the Minister for Planning will determine the application.

Relevant legislation

• Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 – Part 5.