Senator O'Brien asked the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, upon notice, on 10 September 2003:

(1) For each of the following financial years; 2001-02 and 2002-03: what was the estimated illegal catch of Patagonian toothfish and other fish species taken from the Heard and McDonald Islands region.

(2) For each of the following financial years; 2001-02 and 2002-03: what assessment has the Government made of incidental mortality, including marine species and sea birds, resulting from this illegal fishing activity.

Senator Ian Macdonald (Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The estimated illegal catch of Patagonian toothfish for fishing season 2001-02 from the Heard and McDonald Islands (HIMI) region was 3489 tonnes.

The estimated illegal catch of Patagonian toothfish for fishing season 2002-03 from the HIMI region was 1512 tonnes.

(2) The Australian government has input into the calculation of incidental mortality of sea birds and mammals. Representatives of the Department of the Environment and Heritage sit along with other Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) member country experts on the Commission's working group on Incidental Mortality Associated with Fishing.