Explanatory note

This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These regulations, which come into force on the 28th day after the date of their notification in the Gazette, amend the Fisheries (Central Area Commercial Fishing) Regulations 1986 to prohibit trawling in certain areas. The purpose of the prohibition is to protect certain seamounts and their surrounding areas.

A seamount is a protruding irregularity or bottom feature that rises above the sea floor, and may be either stand alone or form part of a chain or range of hills.

The particular seamounts round which trawling is prohibited by the new regulation 6B are those known by some fishers as Brothers and Rumble III.