Environmental Assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Victorian Abalone Fishery, September 2025
Agency application on ecological sustainability
Learn more about the Victorian Abalone Fishery.
About the application
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water received an application from the Victorian Fisheries Authority on 14 August 2025, followed by an amended application received on 15 September 2025. The amended 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 Victorian Abalone Fishery, as managed consistent with the Fisheries Act 1995 (Vic), Fisheries Regulations 2019 (Vic) and Victorian Wild Harvest Abalone Fishery Management Plan 2015, 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 Victorian Abalone Fishery as managed consistent with the Fisheries Act 1995 (Vic), Fisheries Regulations 2019 (Vic) and Victorian Wild Harvest Abalone Fishery Management Plan 2015.
accrediting the management regime for the Victorian Abalone 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.
How to get involved
Download the application:
Victorian Abalone Fishery Application [PDF 917KB]
Victorian Abalone Fishery Application [Word 4.38MB]
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Send your comments
The call for public comments is open from 24 September 2025 until 24 October 2025.
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’.
