What has changed
The federal government has amended the List of Exempt Native Specimens Instrument 2001 to include three Northern Territory fisheries: the NT Trepang (sea cucumber) Fishery, the NT Mud Crab Fishery, and the NT Spanish Mackerel Fishery. The amending instrument was registered on 20 August 2026 and is now in force.
What exempt native specimen status means
Specimens from these three fisheries are now classified as exempt native specimens under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This classification is relevant to whether catches from these fisheries can be exported without individual EPBC Act export permits.
Administering department
The instrument is administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
What the source does not cover
The instrument does not specify any transitional arrangements, conditions attached to the exemptions, or further submission processes.
Key actions
- Operators in or buyers from the NT Trepang, Mud Crab, or Spanish Mackerel fisheries who export product can review the full instrument and explanatory statement at legislation.gov.au/F2026L01080 to check whether this listing changes export permit obligations under the EPBC Act.
- The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water can be contacted for information on how the exemption applies to a specific fishing or export operation.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.