On 7 September 2015, the Senate referred the following matter for inquiry and report:

The environmental, social and economic impacts of large-capacity fishing vessels commonly known as 'supertrawlers' operating in Australia's marine jurisdiction.

The inquiry lapsed at the end of the 44th Parliament.

On 13 September 2016, the Senate agreed to the committee's recommendation that this inquiry be re-adopted in the 45th Parliament. The committee is to report by 23 November 2016.

All correspondence and evidence previously received for this inquiry has been made available to the new committee. This means that submissions already provided to the committee about this issue do not need to be re-submitted. The committee intends to refer to the evidence received during the 44th Parliament.