To be eligible to apply, you will need to provide:
- a business plan that sets out the main elements of your proposed fishing operation
- proof that you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.
Existing rules that apply to commercial fishing also apply under an IFP. These include catch logbooks, telephone reporting, vessel tracking, gear restrictions, seasonal closures, area closures and size limits. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning restrictions and commercial vessel registration regulations also apply.
The factors that will be considered when making a decision about an IFP include:
- the species you proposed to harvest, their stock status and any sustainability concerns
- existing management arrangements for the species or fishery (e.g. quota species)
- other IFPs issued for a particular fishery or area
- the merit of the applicant, including the business case and previous fishing experience.
The first consideration is to ensure the sustainability of fisheries resources.
