Commonwealth Fisheries Bycatch Policy.

The Commonwealth Fisheries Bycatch Policy (2018) (The Policy) aims to minimize fishing-related impacts on general bycatch species in a manner consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development and with regard to the structure, productivity, function and biological diversity of the ecosystem. The Policy applies in Commonwealth fisheries managed by Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), whereas key commercial and byproduct species (whether retained or discarded) are managed under the Harvest Strategy Policy.
The Policy framework requires that in applying the Bycatch Policy, AFMA must take into account the precautionary principle as well apply a risk-based approach to assessing and managing bycatch species. To pursue this objective the Australian Government will implement bycatch mitigation strategies for general bycatch species (see Section 3.1).
In the Policy "bycatch" is defined as a species that is incidentally either: taken in a fishery and returned to the sea; killed or injured as a result of interacting with fishing equipment in the fishery, but not taken. The Policy further distinguishes bycatch between "General bycatch" or "Bycatch relating to Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)–listed species". "General bycatch" describes all bycatch species in a fishery that are not listed under the EPBC Act. The large variation of species in this category calls for various assessment and management approaches. "EPBC Act–listed species" are managed separately to other bycatch species due to their special status under Australia’s national environmental legislation. EPBC Act–listed species comprise those species protected under Part 13 of the EPBC Act, including whales and other cetaceans and listed threatened, marine and migratory species (except for conservation-dependent species managed through rebuilding strategies under the Harvest Strategy Policy in line with the requirements of the EPBC Act).