Ms Debbie-Lee Wisby
Aqua Marine Tasmania
PO Box 169

ORFORD TAS 7190

Dear Ms Wisby

I am writing to you as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment in relation to the assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), of the harvest for export of Nototodarus gouldi (Gould’s squid) by Aqua Marine Tasmania.

You recently provided the department with a submission for assessment under the EPBC Act seeking export approval for product taken under a Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery Licence. Your submission has been assessed against the wildlife trade operation provisions of Part13A of the EPBCAct.

I am pleased to advise that the assessment of the operation of Aqua Marine Tasmania for the harvest of N. gouldi is now complete. I am satisfied that the operation of Aqua Marine Tasmania, as it relates to the harvest of N. gouldi within the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery, has management arrangements in place that provides the basis for the operation to be managed in an ecologically sustainable way. I am also satisfied that the operation, as it relates to the harvest of N. gouldi, is unlikely to be detrimental to the survival or conservation status of the taxon to which the operation relates, or threaten any relevant ecosystem.

Hence, I have decided to declare the harvest of N. gouldi by Aqua Marine Tasmania, within the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery an approved wildlife trade operation under Part 13A of the EPBC Act, subject to the conditions at Attachment 1. This declaration would allow the export of N. gouldi from Aqua Marine Tasmania until 15 December 2016.

Thank you for the constructive and timely assistance you provided to departmental officers during the assessment of this operation.

Yours sincerely

Paul Murphy
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment
16 December 2013

2

Conditions on the approved wildlife trade operation declaration for Aqua Marine Tasmania

Condition 1:

The harvest of Gould’s squid by Aqua Marine Tasmania will be carried out in accordance with the Tasmanian Living Marine Resources Management Act1995 and the Tasmanian Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004.

Condition 2:

Aqua Marine Tasmania to advise the Department of the Environment of any changes:

- to the permit conditions on permits issued by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, and/or

- any changes to operating arrangements of the facility

that could affect the criteria on which Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) decisions are based.

Condition 3:

Annual reports are to be provided by Aqua Marine Tasmania to the Department the Environment and should include:

- the total harvest, including the location of harvest, and

- any interactions with EPBC Act listed species.

2