Australia is a member of the ATSEA Program to strengthen regional marine policy and technical collaboration. Through its national agencies, Australia contributes to joint planning, environmental monitoring, and institutional capacity across the ATS.
From 2024 to 2026, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is supporting the development of a Regional Action Plan (RAP) to tackle abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in collaboration with other ATS countries.
Reducing ALDFG requires coordinated reforms for stronger policies, improved fisheries management, and active stakeholder engagement at all levels. Recognising the economic value of fishing gear is central to shaping behaviour around its maintenance, recovery, and disposal. Through regional cooperation, these efforts aim to minimize the environmental and economic impacts of ALDFG and protect marine ecosystems in the Arafura and Timor Seas.
➡️ See how we work on ALDFG
