Environmental Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
South Australian Sardine Fishery, September 2026
Agency application on ecological sustainability
Learn more about the South Australian Sardine Fishery
About the application
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water received an application from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia on 3 September 2026. The application has been prepared to address the ‘Guidelines for the ecologically sustainable management of fisheries – 2nd edition’ and will be used to assess the operation of the fishery for the purposes of Parts 13 and 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act).
Consideration will be given to:
Declaring the South Australian Sardine Fishery, as managed consistent with the Management Plan for the South Australian Commercial Sardine Fishery 2023, under the Fisheries Management Act 2007 (SA) and the Fisheries Management (Sardine Fishery) Regulations 2021 (SA) as an approved wildlife trade operation under section 303FN of the EPBC Act.
Including in the list of exempt native specimens, specimens harvested in the South Australian Sardine Fishery, as managed consistent with the Management Plan for the South Australian Commercial Sardine Fishery 2023, under the Fisheries Management Act 2007 (SA) and the Fisheries Management (Sardine Fishery) Regulations 2021 (SA).
Accrediting the management regime for the South Australian Sardine Fishery, under sections 208A, 222A, 245 and 265 of the EPBC Act for the purposes of Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively of Part 13 of the EPBC Act.
In accordance with the provisions of sections 303FR and 303DC of the EPBC Act, you are invited to comment on this proposal.
Any comments received will form part of the documentation provided to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Water, or the minister’s delegate for decision.
Download the application
Application for reassessment of the South Australian Sardine Fishery 2026 [PDF 1.19MB]
Application for reassessment of the South Australian Sardine Fishery 2026 [DOC 2.61MB]
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Send your comments
The call for public comments is open from 18 September 2026 until 20 October 2026.
Comments can be sent by email or writing to:
Email: sustainablefisheries@dcceew.gov.au
Mail:
The Director
Sustainable Fisheries Section
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
GPO BOX 3090
Canberra ACT 2601
Privacy and confidentiality
Copies of comments may be made available to other persons with a particular interest in the application. If you wish your comments to remain confidential, please clearly mark the relevant part(s) of your comments as ‘confidential’.
