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Designated fishing activities

Planning approval pathways

Fishing boats at dusk on Eden Wharf, Nullica Bay in the background. Eden, NSW. Credit: NSW Department of Planning and Environment / Jaime Plaza Van Roon
 

What is a designated fishing activity?

Designated fishing activities include commercial fishing activities relating to particular methods and/or locations including fish stocking.

How do you apply for approval?

Before a designated fishing activity can be undertaken, approval is needed from the Minister for Primary Industries.

Anyone who wishes to undertake a designated fishing activity needs to prepare a draft fishery management plan (which includes assessment of cumulative environmental impacts) and an environmental impact statement.

Following public exhibition of these documents, the department assesses the project and provides a report to the Minister for Primary Industries, who makes a decision on the proposal. If the Minister for Primary Industries is the proponent of the designated fishing activity, the Minister for Planning will determine the application.