 |
|
II. MECHANISMS FOR INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO SECTOR
POLICIES AND FOR MONITORING ENFORCEMENT
[ A | B | C
| D ]
D. Institutional arrangements for coordination with trading partners/neighbouring countries
[ D-1 | D-2 | | D-3
]
2. Torres Strait Treaty
The Torres Strait is located between the tip of Cape York Peninsula, in Australia, and Papua New Guinea. It comprises more than 100 islands and reefs which are believed to have evolved from flooded land bridges that were once part of the Great Dividing Range. The Torres Strait Treaty was entered into by Australia and Papua New Guinea in February 1985. The Treaty is concerned with sovereignty and maritime boundaries in the area between the two countries and the protection of the way of life and livelihood of the indigenous inhabitants, and the marine environment. The Treaty also established the Torres Strait Protected Zone (TSPZ) in which each country exercises sovereign jurisdiction for marine species on the respective sides of the agreed jurisdiction lines.
The Protected Zone Joint Authority is responsible for the management of the fisheries listed below in accordance with Commonwealth law in the Australian component of TSPZ:
- Traditional fishing;
- Fisheries which Australia and Papua New Guinea have agreed to jointly manage in TSPZ under Article 22 of the Treaty, i.e., prawns, Spanish mackerel, pearl shells, tropical rock lobsters, dugongs and turtles;
- The barramundi fisheries in the territorial waters adjacent to the six Australian islands near the coast of Papua New Guinea: Saibai, Boigu, Moimi, Kaumag, Aubusi and Dauan.
Under the terms of the Treaty, Australia and Papua New Guinea are expected to cooperate in the conservation, management and optimum utilization of commercial fisheries in TSPZ. When part of a fisheries stock under joint management arrangements with Papua New Guinea belongs substantially to TSPZ but also extends outside but near the zone, the Treaty allows Australia and Papua New Guinea, in adopting a management plan, to apply the plan in those areas. Fisheries managers from Australia and Papua New Guinea meet on an annual basis to discuss the management issues including joint enforcement initiatives, research and improvements in techniques for dealing with illegal fishing.
|
|
|
