Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee

The Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee (AIMAC) is established under Section 42 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Its function is to provide information and advice to the Minister for Fisheries on:

1. The management of all fish and fisheries within the Abrolhos Islands (being the subject of Reserve No. A20253) together with the territorial waters around those islands (“the Abrolhos Islands Area”) which are not managed in accordance with a management plan made under the Act, with a view to the proper conservation and management of those fish and fisheries.
2. The management of the Abrolhos Islands Area for those activities related to fishing, conservation and ecotourism including the need for sanctuary areas, the protection of coral and similar organisms and the use of the Abrolhos Islands Area by the public.
3. Appropriate development of and access to the Abrolhos Islands Area including proposals for tourist development, the construction and use of airports, tracks, fences, signs, jetties, moorings and airstrips;
4. The impact on the Abrolhos Islands Area of proposed aquaculture developments.
5. In relation to any plan (or draft plan) of management for the Abrolhos Islands Area.
6. How to promote public understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the natural and cultural resources of the Abrolhos Islands Area and the conservation of the natural and cultural values of the Abrolhos Islands Area.
7. A consultative process which ensures the community, State and Local Government agencies and tertiary institutions have an ongoing involvement in the planning for and management of the Abrolhos Islands Area.
8. A consultative process with other advisory bodies concerned with fishing and other relevant activities within the Abrolhos Islands Area, including the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee, Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, and the Recreation and Sports Fishing Council.

AIMAC membership and expertise

AIMAC has ten members including the Chairman. There are three ex-officio members whom do not vote on issues, only provide advice on their areas of legislative responsibility: The three ex-officio members are the Chief Executive Officer's of the Department of Fisheries, Department of Environment and Conservation and the Western Australian Museum.

Chairman
Mr Peter Driscoll, Chairman, who is a planning consultant and the Principal of Landvision, practicing in Perth and regional WA. Peter has held senior positions in State and local government and now does a broad range of projects with all levels of Government and private enterprise. He has specialised in regional and coastal planning and natural resource management and has been a member since the inception of the committee in 1996.

Commercial Rock Lobster Fishing
Mr Kris Carlberg who is a third generation commercial rock-lobster fisherman operating out of Geraldton and the Abrolhos Islands; and with over a decade of fishing experience. Well known and respected amongst his peers within the industry and has studied for and attained post-graduate level qualifications in aquaculture and marine resource management.

Recreational Fishing
Mr Bevan Suckling was a commercial charter boat operator working out of Geraldton, representing recreational fishing interests. Has a long association with the Abrolhos Islands and understands the ongoing management issues, having worked and spent time recreationally in the area over many seasons.

Charter Vessel Operations
Mr Jay Cox has extensive Abrolhos Islands experience as a rock lobster skipper and presently the owner/operator of a charter vessel. Currently full-time in this capacity he conducts a diverse range of Abrolhos charters, including diving, fishing, nature based seabird tours, research charters and historical tours involving the Batavia saga.

Abrolhos Islands Aquaculture
Mr Martin Jurat is a shipwright and a part owner of an Abrolhos Islands pearl lease and he is also active in the running of the facility. He has the knowledge and credentials to represent the Abrolhos Islands aquaculture industry and he is a member of the Non-maxima Pearl Farmers Association.

Abrolhos Islands Community – Two Representatives
 Mrs Caroline Pettet is a long-term resident of the Abrolhos Islands through her association with the western rock lobster fishery. More recently she has diversified her families' business interests into an aircraft charter operation that services the rock lobster fishery and also provides tourism flights to the area. Mrs Pettet provides a constructive input from a number of perspectives, given her diverse background and business interests.

Mrs Leonie Noble  has previously represented the Abrolhos Islands community as their member on AIMAC. She has an extensive Abrolhos knowledge gained over many years involved in the commercial rock lobster fishing industry as an owner/operator. She and her family have recently diversified their business interests into marine charter operations and she is involved in the marketing of the new venture.

Business and Marketing
Ms Heather Jones is an award winning Western Australian business owner.  Ms Jones is the owner and operator of Success Transport Pty Ltd that operates trucks transporting bulk goods within Western Australia.  Ms Jones' business accomplishments have been recognised in several forums including receiving the WA Westpac Business Owner Award in the Telstra Business Woman of the Year awards. In 2005 and 2007 Ms Jones was awarded the Western Australia Transport Woman of the Year Award.   Ms Jones will bring a new business perspective to AIMAC.

Conservation
Dr Helen Robertsonhas over twenty years experience in the field of environmental biology and ecology and has occupied the position of Director Animal Health and Research at the Perth Zoo since January 2007.  Dr Robertson has been involved in a number of recovery programs and has experience in conservation aspects of various terrestrial species. Dr Robertson brings significant expertise in terrestrial ecology to AIMAC that will be invaluable in the management of the Abrolhos Islands as a whole of system approach.

Tourism
Ms Jennifer Duffecy is the Executive Director of Industry Development and Visitor Servicing with Tourism Western Australia.  Ms Duffecy's experience in tourism development will be a benefit to AIMAC with its challenge of developing a sympathetic tourism industry within the Abrolhos Islands group.  Ms Duffecy has a unique background, with her career being focussed in the Western Australian and Queensland public service across Tourism Western Australia, the Department for Communities, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Department of Commerce and Trade, and Corrective Services.  Apart from her tourism expertise, she will also bring to AIMAC experience in the area of social and community assessment which is an increasingly sought after skill in any arena. 

Executive support is provided by the Department of Fisheries.

Meetings

The Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee meets three to four times a year. After each one, a report is forwarded from the Chairman to the Minister for his consideration.

How to contact the Abrolhos Islands Management Advisory Committee

The Abrolhos Islands MAC can be contacted through the Department of Fisheries as follows: