AGY-4149 | NSW Fisheries [II] (2004-2011) / Fisheries NSW (2011-2013) / DPI Fisheries (2013- )

Full description

NSW Fisheries [II] was established on 1 July 2004 when NSW Fisheries was abolished and all branches transferred to the Department of Primary Industries. (1) The former NSW Fisheries became part of the Primary Industries Agriculture and Fisheries Division within the Department of Primary Industries. (2) NSW Fisheries remained a self funded Public Trading Enterprise (PTE) aligned with DPI's Primary Industries trading division which has responsibility for identification and development of commercial trading activities and opportunities. (3)

The Primary Industries Agriculture and Fisheries Division was responsible for the delivery of integrated and cost effective services to communities and the agricultural and fishing primary industries. (4)

NSW Fisheries is responsible for conserving the State's aquatic resources under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and associated regulations. NSW Fisheries jointly administered the Marine Parks Act 1997 with the Department of Environment and Conservation. The goals of NSW Fisheries were:
- Commercial fishing: managed in a way that promotes profitability and sustainability;
- Quality recreational fishing: promoting sustainability, fair access and quality recreational fishing opportunities;
- Sustainable aquaculture: promoting, developing and supporting viable, sustainable aquaculture industries;
- Conservation of biodiversity: protecting rare and threatened species and maintaining aquatic biodiversity;
- Habitat protection and rehabilitation: protecting our wetlands, mangroves and seagrasses, and promoting rehabilitation of degraded environments;
- Community involvement: securing community confidence by encouraging involvement in decisions about all aspects of fisheries management;
- Continuous improvement: continually improving business management and resource allocation. (5)

At the time of integration into the Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), NSW Fisheries consisted of a Director-General, Deputy Director-General and Executive Director for Regional and Corporate Services, Executive Director for Aquaculture and Sustainable Fisheries, and Executive Director for Policy and Planning. (6)

By 2005, NSW Fisheries was combined into the Agriculture and Fisheries Division within NSW DPI. In 2007, restructuring of NSW DPI created new divisions and NSW Fisheries transferred into the Fisheries, Compliance and Regional Relations Division. The division comprised of four branches including: Compliance Operations Agriculture and Fisheries; Fisheries Conservation and Aquaculture; Fisheries Operations; and Regional Directors. (7)

On 1 July 2009, NSW DPI (and NSW Fisheries) was transferred to the newly established Department of Industry and Investment. Within the Department, NSW Fisheries was established under the Primary Industries Division. (8) The division provided specialist input during 2009 -10 into major legislative reforms, including major amendments to the Fisheries Management Act 1994. The amendments commenced on 1 April 2010 and included provisions to implement the recommendations of the Palmer Report into Illegal Fishing. (9)

On 1 July 2011, the establishment of the NSW DPI as a Departmental Office within the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, led to a department restructure. NSW Fisheries was separated to its own division and renamed to Fisheries NSW. (10)

Fisheries NSW was responsible for sustainably managing the State's fisheries resources and the habitats on which they depend. It promoted and applied the provisions of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and implemented associated policy and management planning frameworks. Fisheries NSW was responsible for managing marine parks and aquatic protected areas in NSW was responsible for applying the provisions of the Marine Parks Act 1997. (11)

By 2014, Fisheries NSW became commonly referred to as DPI Fisheries. (12)

From 1 July 2015, when the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services was abolished the Department of Primary Industries [III] became a branch of the Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development. (13) From 1 April 2017, the name of the Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development was changed to the Department of Industry. (14) On 1 July 2019 the Department of Industry was abolished. DPI (and DPI Fisheries) were added to the new Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. (15)

Staff from in the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment were transferred to Regional NSW on 2 April 2020 and DPI (and DPI Fisheries) were established as a branch within the newly formed department. (16)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette Special Supplement, No.100, 18 June 2004, p.3816.
2. Department of Primary Industries website, About Us, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/reader/dpi-about-us, (accessed 20 January 2005).
3. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Annual Report, 2008-2009, p.195.
4. loc. cit.
5. NSW Fisheries, Annual Report, 2003/2004, p.3.
6. ibid., p.6.
7. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Annual Report, 2005-2006, p.13.
8. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Annual Report, 2007-2008, pp.1, 22.
9. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departmental Amalgamations) Order 2009 (2009 No 352) cls. 16; notified on NSW Legislation website, 27 July 2009.
10. Department of Industry & Investment NSW, Annual Report, 2009-2010, p.18.
11. NSW Trade and Investment, Annual Report, 2011-2012, p.7.
12. NSW Trade and Investment Annual Report, 2014-2015, p.20.
13. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes–Public Service Agencies) Order (No.2) 2015 (2015 No.250) clss.6 (1) and (7); notified on NSW Legislation Website, 29 May 2015.
14. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes-Public Service Agencies) Order 2017 (2017 No.79) cls.7; notified on NSW Legislation Website, 15 March 2017.
15. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes - Public Service Agencies) Order 2019 (2019 No 159), clause 9 (2); notified on NSW Legislation website, 2 April 2019 as amended by Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes--Public Service Agencies) Order 2019 (2019 No 180), Schedule 1 [1]; notified on NSW Legislation website, 1 May 2019.
16. Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Regional NSW and Independent Planning Commission) Order 2020 (2020 No 121); cl. 4; notified on NSW Legislation website, 02 April 2021.