Fisheries Administration Act 1991.

This Act provides for the establishment of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and a Fishing Industry Policy Council and defines their functions and powers and internal organization. The Act consists of 4 Parts divided into 115 sections. Preliminary provisions (Part 1); Australian Fisheries Management Authority (Part 2); The Fishing Industry Policy Council (Part 3); Miscellaneous (Part 4).
The Act establishes the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (sect. 5) whose objectives are set out in section 6 and include: implementing efficient and cost-effective fisheries management and ensuring that the exploitation of fisheries resources is conducted in a manner consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. The Authority has, among other functions, the task of devising management regimes in relation to Australian fisheries, of consulting and cooperating with the industry and members of the public in relation to the activities of the Authority, of establishing and allocating fishing rights, of establishing and maintaining a register of such rights (sect. 7). The subsequent sections of Part 2 are devoted to the constitution and meetings of the Authority (Division 2), to the nomination and selection process for directors (Division 3), to the Managing Director (Division 4), to committees (Division 5), to employees and consultants (Division 6), to corporate and annual operational plans (Division 7), to finance (Division 8), and to miscellaneous (Division 9). The Act also creates the Fishing Industry Policy Council (sect. 96) whose objectives are to facilitate an exchange of view between persons having an interest in the industry on matters affecting the industry and to develop a unified approach to matters affecting the industry (sect. 97). In order to achieve such objectives, the Council may: inquire into, and report to the Minister on, matters affecting the well-being of the industry; develop, and submit to the Minister, recommendations, guidelines and plans (sect. 98). Powers of the Council are set out in section 100 and consist of convening industry conferences and publishing reports. Subsequent sections of Part 3 devoted to the Council deal with the constitution, meetings and working groups of the Council. Lastly, Part 4 provides for the power of the Governor-General to make regulations consistent with the present Act.
Amendments of 2004 concern the implementation of the Agreement to promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas.