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Independent consultants engaged by the Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) Standing Committee have begun meeting with Torres Strait Island and Northern Peninsular Area (NPA) communities to gain their views about future arrangements for the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation to the Traditional Inhabitant Boat (TIB) sector.

In line with the Torres Strait Fisheries (Quotas for Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar)) Management Plan 2018, the Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) Standing Committee has appointed a team of independent consultants to conduct a review of the future arrangements of the Tropical Rock Lobster (Kaiar) quota allocation to Traditional Inhabitants from 16 island communities as well as the Northern Peninsular Area of the Torres Strait.
 

At its out-of-session meeting on 29 May 2024 the Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) agreed that the Torres Strait Finfish Fishery Spanish mackerel TAC will be 77 tonnes and the coral trout TAC will be 123 tonnes for the 2024-25 fishing season, which commences on 1 July 2024. 

In line with section 24HA(7) of the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993, a future act notice (FAN) was issued by AFMA in relation to proposed management action to grant a new Carrier Licence Class B to M.G. Kailis Lobster Pty Ltd to allow the transportation of live and frozen lobster from the Torres Strait region to Cairns. 

AFMA’s end-of-year office shutdown period is from close of business 22 December 2023 to 1 January 2024 inclusive.