From the Department of Primary Industries

Monday, 5 November 2007

HAVE YOUR SAY ON MELBOURNE’S INLAND FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN

Fisheries Victoria is calling on recreational fishers and the community to have their say about an inland fishery management plan being developed for Melbourne and its surrounds.

Fisheries Victoria Acting Executive Director, Jon Presser, said the plan will identify measures to manage fishing in the lakes and rivers of the region, but will not include the marine waters of Port Phillip Bay and Western Port.

“The region supports bream and mulloway fisheries in the lower reaches of its major rivers and trout, redfin and native recreational fisheries further upstream and in its freshwater lakes,” Mr Presser said.

“These fisheries provide significant social and economic value to the region’s communities.

“Popular recreational fisheries include the Werribee, Maribyrnong and Yarra rivers, and lakes such as Lillydale Lake, Jack Roper Reserve and Melton Reservoir.

“An important part of developing the plan is to identify the values associated with recreational fishing across the region.

“I urge all interested fishers to attend one of the meetings and contribute to the future of fishing in their community.”

A steering committee, established to assist with the preparation of the Plan, is keen to know:

• What fish species are most important to recreational fishing in the region?
• What fishing locations are most important to you in the region?
• How can recreational fishing be improved in the region?
• What is working well in the region and should stay as it is?

The Steering Committee will be independently chaired by Ross Winstanley and will have
representatives from the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body (VRFish), the Fisheries Comanagement Council, Indigenous interests, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, Melbourne Water, Southern Rural Water, Victorian National Parks Association, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

The following public meetings are scheduled:

1. Iramoo Community Centre, 84 Honour Ave, Wyndham Vale, on 20 November 2007 at 7pm
2. Balla Balla Centre, Berwick-Cranbourne Road, East Cranbourne, on 21 November 2007 at 7pm
3. Lillydale Lake Community Room, north end of the main car park on Lilydale-Montrose Road,
Lilydale, on 27 November 2007 at 7pm
4. Epping Memorial Hall, cnr High Street and Hall Street, Epping, on 28 November 2007 at 7pm.

People can also provide their views in writing to Fisheries Victoria. Written submissions should be sent to Candice Basham, Fisheries Planning Officer, GPO Box 4440 Melbourne VIC 3001 or email – Candice.Basham@dpi.vic.gov.au by 5pm on Thursday, 6 December 2007.

Further information can be obtained by calling Ms Basham on 03 9658 4377.