Status
2023 Bull Kelp Status
| Status | Sustainable |
| Summary | Fishery operations were found to be managed in a manner that minimises the fishery's impact on the structure, productivity, function, and biological diversity of the ecosystem. The fishery was declared a Wildlife Trade Operation for three years from November 2023. |
| Stock | Tasmanian Bull Kelp |
| Indicator(s) | Harvest levels; ecological impacts (TEPS interactions, threatened ecological community impacts, general ecosystem impacts). |
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water assesses the Tasmanian Marine Plant Fishery under Part 13 and 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries – 2nd Edition. The fishery is assessed as a whole, including both the Bull Kelp fishery and the Undaria fishery. Stock assessments for the Tasmanian Marine Plant Fishery are not undertaken because only beach-cast native plants can be taken. Undaria, which is harvested live, is a declared noxious pest species and is not subject to sustainable harvest limits. The declaration of the fishery as an approved Wildlife Trade Operation means the fishery is authorised to export its products and indicates that the fishery is managed sustainably.
Assessment of the Tasmanian Marine Plant Fishery by the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is available here:
