Product Overview

Summary: This Fishing Activities Regulation Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical requirements for planning and conducting fishing operations safely and lawfully in Australian waters. It brings together WHS duties, marine safety rules, and fisheries regulations into one consistent process, helping operators protect their crews, vessels, and licences while maintaining sustainable fishing practices.

Commercial and organised fishing activities in Australia operate in a highly regulated environment, where workplace safety, marine law, and fisheries management all intersect. This SOP provides a structured, step‑by‑step framework for planning, conducting, and reviewing fishing operations so that crews work safely, catch is taken legally, and the business can clearly demonstrate due diligence under WHS and fisheries legislation. It covers everything from pre‑departure checks and weather assessments to safe gear handling, fatigue management, bycatch controls, and reporting requirements.

Without a robust, documented procedure, fishing operations are exposed to serious risks: crew injuries on deck, man‑overboard incidents, non‑compliance with catch limits or closed areas, equipment failures at sea, and costly regulatory penalties. This SOP solves those problems by standardising how decisions are made and tasks are carried out—on every trip and by every crew. It gives operators a practical tool to train new staff, evidence compliance during audits and inspections, and continuously improve safety performance while protecting the long‑term viability of fishing grounds. Tailored for the Australian context, it aligns vessel practices with WHS obligations, marine safety requirements, and jurisdictional fisheries rules, whether you’re operating offshore trawlers, inshore line fisheries, or fishing tourism charters.

Key Benefits

• Ensure fishing operations are conducted in line with Australian WHS, marine safety, and fisheries regulations.
• Reduce the likelihood of crew injuries, man‑overboard events, and equipment‑related incidents on deck.
• Standardise trip planning, catch handling, and record‑keeping across vessels and crews.
• Demonstrate due diligence and regulatory compliance during audits, inspections, and incident investigations.
• Support sustainable fishing practices by embedding controls for protected species, bycatch, and closed areas.

Who is this for?

• Fishing Vessel Owners
• Skippers and Masters
• Deckhands and Crew Members
• Marine Operations Managers
• WHS Managers in Commercial Fishing
• Aquaculture and Fisheries Supervisors
• Compliance and Risk Managers
• Tourism Fishing Charter Operators

Hazards Addressed

• Slips, trips and falls on wet, moving decks
• Entanglement in nets, lines, winches and hauling equipment
• Man‑overboard incidents during gear setting, hauling, or fish handling
• Crush and pinch injuries from moving gear, hatches, doors and loads
• Manual handling injuries from hauling gear, lifting catches and handling ice
• Fatigue‑related incidents during long shifts and extended trips
• Exposure to extreme weather, cold, heat and sun while at sea
• Cuts, punctures and infections from fish spines, hooks and knives
• Plant and equipment failures (winches, cranes, hydraulics, lifting gear)
• Chemical exposure from fuels, oils, cleaning agents and refrigerants
• Non‑compliance risks relating to catch limits, protected species and closed areas

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Legislation and Definitions
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (Owner, Skipper, Crew, WHS Representative)
• 4.0 Planning and Pre‑Trip Requirements
• 5.0 Vessel Seaworthiness, Equipment and Safety Checks
• 6.0 Weather, Tides and Environmental Condition Assessment
• 7.0 Licensing, Permits and Fisheries Compliance Requirements
• 8.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 9.0 Safe Use of Nets, Lines, Traps and Hauling Equipment
• 10.0 On‑Deck Work Practices and Housekeeping Controls
• 11.0 Fatigue Management and Work/Rest Arrangements
• 12.0 Catch Handling, Storage, Hygiene and Biosecurity
• 13.0 Bycatch, Protected Species and Environmental Management
• 14.0 Communication, Navigation and Watch‑Keeping Procedures
• 15.0 Emergency Preparedness (Man‑Overboard, Collision, Fire, Medical)
• 16.0 Incident Reporting, Near Misses and Corrective Actions
• 17.0 Training, Competency and Induction Requirements
• 18.0 Record‑Keeping, Logbooks and Compliance Documentation
• 19.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS legislation
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS regulations
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012
• National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) – relevant parts for operational safety and crewing
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but commonly referenced)
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• Relevant state and territory Fisheries Acts and Regulations (e.g. Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth) for Commonwealth fisheries)
• Marine Orders issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), as applicable