Harvest strategies have become a cornerstone of contemporary fisheries management in Australia, providing structured frameworks for setting objectives, monitoring performance and guiding management responses to changing stock conditions. The original National Guidelines to Develop Fishery Harvest Strategies (FRDC 2010-061) were developed to support a consistent and harmonised approach to harvest strategy development across Australian fisheries jurisdictions.
More than a decade after their release, FRDC Project 2021-135 reviewed the implementation and evolution of harvest strategies across Australia and delivered the Second Edition of the National Guidelines, published on 22 July 2026. The project examined changes in harvest strategy development, implementation and policy frameworks, drawing on the experiences of Commonwealth, state and territory fisheries agencies, scientists, managers and stakeholders.
The review found that harvest strategies are now firmly embedded within Australian fisheries management and that the principles underpinning the original Guidelines remain highly relevant. However, fisheries management has evolved considerably, with increasing emphasis on risk-based decision making, stakeholder engagement, governance arrangements, Indigenous participation, ecosystem considerations, and the integration of economic, social and cultural objectives alongside biological sustainability.
The Second Edition builds on more than a decade of practical experience and provides updated national best-practice guidance for developing, implementing and reviewing harvest strategies. Key updates include expanded guidance on governance and stakeholder engagement, stronger recognition of Indigenous objectives and participation, improved treatment of uncertainty and risk, and enhanced practical guidance supported by contemporary examples.
This presentation will provide an overview of the national review, key findings and the development of the newly released Guidelines. It will also highlight the importance of extension, communication and knowledge sharing to support awareness, uptake and adoption across Australian fisheries. By promoting consistent application of contemporary harvest strategy principles, the Guidelines will continue to support transparent, adaptive and evidence-based fisheries management and improved fisheries outcomes nationally.