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Fish habitat policies
Fish habitat policies document management objectives for assessing development proposals which impact on the values and functions of fish habitats. The policies also help maintain statewide consistency.
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) is committed to implementing policies aimed at ensuring the long-term protection and enhancement of marine plants and fish habitats along Queensland´s coast.
Self-assessable codes allow low-impact development involving waterway barriers works under the Integrated Planning Act 1997. The codes reduce red tape by eliminating the need to undertake the approval process while still achieving policy objectives. Self-assessable codes achieve this by placing limitations on low-impact development to minimise any adverse outcomes on fisheries resources and fish habitats. An approval is not required for works performed under a self-assessable code if completed within the code´s restrictions. However, pre-works notification and on-site signage requirements apply.
Policy revisions
A number of fish habitat policies are being revised to reflect legislative changes and integration of the Fisheries Act 1994 with the Integrated Planning Act 1997.
Policies
- Management and protection of marine plants and other tidal fish habitats (FHMOP 001)
- Management of declared Fish Habitat Areas (FHMOP 002)
- Departmental procedures for permit applications assessment and approvals for insect pest control in coastal wetlands (FHMOP 003)
- Dredging, extraction and spoil disposal activities: Departmental procedures for provision of fisheries comments (FHMOP 004)
- Mitigation and compensation for activities and works causing marine fish habitat loss: Departmental procedures (FHMOP 005)
- Fish Habitat Area declaration and review: Departmental consultation procedures (FHMOP 006)
- Fish Habitat Area selection and assessment: Departmental procedures (FHMOP 007)
- Waterway barrier works approvals and fishway assessments: Departmental procedures (FHMOP 008)
- Restoration notices for fish habitats - formulation and implementation: Departmental procedures (FHMOP 009)
- Tidal fish habitats, erosion control and beach replenishment (FHMOP 010)
Management and protection of marine plants and other tidal fish habitats (FHMOP 001)
This policy contains background information on the protection and management of marine plants and other tidal fish habitats, policies relating to assessment of development activities and management of related impacts, and a description of how to apply the policy in terms of development assessment.
Management of declared fish habitat areas (FHMOP 002)
This policy defines activities that are subject to declared FHA management, and provides an interpretation of fisheries legislation in relation to declared FHA boundaries and specific works and related activities permissible within declared FHAs.
Document in smaller parts:
- Part 1 (PDF, 380 kB)
- Part 2 (PDF, 269 kB)
- Part 3 (PDF, 340 kB)
- Part 4 (PDF, 448 kB)
- Part 5 (PDF, 360 kB)
Departmental procedures for permit applications assessment and approvals for insect pest control in coastal wetlands (FHMOP 003)
This policy details mosquito or biting midge activities and approvals required by QPIF.
Dredging, extraction and spoil disposal activities (FHMOP 004)
This policy outlines procedures for the provision of comments and assessment of applications for commercial extraction, dredging and spoil disposal. Information on the history, type and extent of dredging activities in Queensland, impacts on fish and fisheries associated with dredging activities, and relevant case studies are also provided.
Mitigation and compensation for activities and works causing marine fish habitat loss (FHMOP 005)
This policy provides information on requirements for mitigation and compensation ('offsets') where fish habitat loss is proposed. It also guides decision-making and negotiation of proposals to reduce impacts through avoidance and minimisation of impacts (on-site), and compensation for marine fish habitat losses (off-site). This policy is currently under revision for consistency with the Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy (QGEOP) terminology, principles and objectives.
- Mitigation and compensation for works or activities causing marine fish habitat loss FHMOP 005 (PDF, 154 kB)
- Offset measures for marine fish habitats - information sheet (PDF, 568 kB)
- Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy
Fish habitat area declaration and review: Consultation procedures (FHMOP 006)
This policy details the process for community and stakeholder consultation undertaken by QPIF in the lead up to the declaration of a new fish habitat area.
Fish habitat area selection and assessment (FHMOP007)
This policy details the selection criteria and assessment procedures undertaken by QPIF for the declaration of fish habitat areas in Queensland explaining in detail how candidate fish habitat areas are identified using a range of criteria.
Waterway barrier works approvals and fishway assessments (FHMOP 008)
This policy provides information on when waterway barrier works may be approved (with or without a fishway), or refused.
Restoration notices for fish habitats - formulation and implementation (FHMOP 009)
This policy guides QPIF staff through the process of assessing and preparing restoration notices to ensure timely and effective restoration of disturbed fish habitats. This policy does not provide direct instruction on how to deal with individual restoration cases. Each case should be assessed individually using this policy for guidance.
Tidal fish habitats, erosion control and beach replenishment (FHMOP 010)
This outlines QPIF´s policy position on tidal fish habitats, erosion control structures and beach replenishment. The policy also provides a transparent and consistent approach to guide QPIF staff in considering erosion control structures and beach replenishment when undertaking assessments and providing advice.
Further information
Page maintained by Rebecca Batton and Dawn Couchman
Last updated 16 September 2009
