Who We Are Vision
and Policy Draft EMS Contact Us
Draft Environmental Management System
(EMS) for professional fisheries in Moreton Bay - an industry initiative
“Environmental
sustainability - to ensure a better future for all”.
SUMMARY
Over
the past 10 - 15 years the professional fishers of Moreton Bay have faced
increasing challenges on many levels - business-related, personally and
socially. The fishers of Moreton Bay recognize that they have a responsibility
to harvest seafood on behalf of the community in an environmentally sustainable
manner (as current technology and techniques allow). To manage business and
personal challenges as they arise, in addition to continually improving
environmental performance, the fishers of Moreton Bay decided to develop an
Environmental Management System (EMS).
In 2003 we commenced development of a regional EMS for the whole of Moreton Bay. Fisheries that are currently included in the EMS are the otter and beam trawl, and net commercial fisheries. A crab section of the EMS is currently being developed with the assistance of Seanet, an extension program run by Oceanwatch. The specimen shell collection and line fisheries will be included in this EMS at a later date. With technical assistance from the University of Queensland, project management by the Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) and Seafood Services Australia (SSA), funding support from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), SSA, the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) and CRC Reef, we have developed an EMS which includes a vision, scope, risk assessment, policy, actions, code of industry best practice, implementation strategy, audit, review and reporting mechanisms.
This is the first time that fishers from a range of fisheries in Moreton bay have voluntarily collaborated in an effort to make a formal commitment to environment sustainability.
The EMS has been developed in accordance with guidelines set out by Seafood Services Australia (the Green Chooser), the Australian Standard ISO 14001:1996 Environmental Management Systems, the world Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing and the Australian Seafood Industry Council (ASIC) Code of Conduct for a Responsible Seafood Industry.
We plan to use this EMS as a vehicle to proactively manage our local industry in a manner that goes beyond legislative requirements to ensure a more secure future for professional fishing and, more importantly, the marine environment on which our livelihood depends.
To receive a copy of the EMS please contact the MBSIA office.