FROM THE OFFICE OF VRFISH – VICTORIAS’ RECREATIONAL FISHING PEAK BODY

WELCOME TO THE MONTHLY REPORT FROM THE VRFISH OFFICE

October 2007

Channel Deepening Project Assessment Released
Minister Justin Madden has released the Port Phillip Bay Channel Deepening Project Assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978, giving his approval for the Project to go ahead. But this is not the final stage of approval, next is approval from Minister Pallas, Minister for Roads and Ports and other Government Ministers who have approvals responsibilities. Then the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) needs to seek approval from the Victorian Minister for Environment. Then finally it must go to the Australian Minister for Environment and Water – and this won’t occur until after the Federal Election. VRFish is concerned that in Minister Madden’s Assessment he has made the request of PoMC to post a performance bond or similar performance mechanism on the consideration would be the Projects impact on fish stocks and recruitment. VRFish has expressed its concerns regarding the project on numerous occasions, you can refresh yourself with VRFish position paper @ http://www.vrfish.com.au/media_releases.htm or read the full assessment www.dse.vic.gov.au
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CONS 2008
If your club/association/group wishes to list a water for consideration of fish stocking during the 2008 regional consultations meetings (CONS), please contact the VRFish Secretariat on 03 9686 7077 to discuss your fish stocking proposal. Proposals need to be submitted by mid-January.
         
Guide Published
The 2007/2008 Victorian Fishing Guide has been released. Make sure you pick up a copy to keep up to date with current Rules and Regulations. If you check out page 26 of the Guide, you’ll see the happy smiling faces of the VRFish Staff, Christopher Collins and Alison Gibson but more importantly the latest version of the Recreational Fishing Code of Conduct has been published in the Guide to remind Victorian recreational fishers responsibilities while out fishing. The Guide is also available on the Department of Primary Industries website www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing
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Management Plan for Port Phillip & Western Port
Fisheries Victoria, along with community stakeholders, are in the initial stages of drafting an Inland Fishery Management Plan for the Port Phillip & Westernport catchment area. And you can help – to have direct input to the Inland Fishery Management Plan, four community forums are being run during November – 20 November @ Wyndham Vale, 21 November @ East Cranbourne, 27 November @ Lilydale and 28 November @ Epping. This Inland Fishery Management Plan will identify measures to manage recreational fishing in rivers and lakes in Melbourne and its surrounds. If you can’t make the public meetings, complete the survey and send into Fisheries Victoria. Further details, including the survey, are available on VRFish’s website www.vrfish.com.au or phone Candice Basham 03 9658 4377.
                    
Murray cod on Tour
‘Murray cod: the biggest fish in the river’ exhibition is touring. This exhibition is a rich showcase of visual art inspired by Australia’s most iconic fish. Consisting of over 40 works of art by 27 artists, this timely and unique touring exhibition examines a great fish that symbolises the Murray River itself. To find out if the tour is coming near you, check out http://www.netsvictoria.org/NETS_4_1.html
                   
We Have A Winner
Andrew Kangllos visited the VRFish stand during the recent Melbourne Fishing and Outdoor Expo. It was well worth his stop as Andrew won two original partings of Victoria’s iconic fish species, the Murray cod and the Snapper, painted by local artist John Corbett. Congratulations Andrew, we hope you enjoy your prize. Thanks to everyone to came and said hello and we hope you enjoy reading the latest edition of Fishing Lines! You can still register your details to receive future editions of fishing lines – just drop VRFish a line info@vrfish.com.au or phone 9686 7077.

West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan out for comment
The Minister for Agriculture has released the draft West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan for public comment until 21 December 2007. The purpose of the Draft Management Plan is to specify objectives, strategies and performance measures for managing recreational fishing activities in the rivers and impoundments across the West Gippsland region. For a copy of the Draft Management Plan, go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing

Devilbend Reserve Community Workshop
Parks Victoria is running a community workshop on 25 November 2007 to discuss the future management directions and strategies for Devilbend Reserve. So if you are a keen recreational fisher who would like to see Devilbend be developed into a fantastic recreational fishery – go along and have your input to the Workshop. RSVP to Jo Richards devilbend@parks.vic.gov.au or phone 5986 9111. VRFish’s vision for Devilbend Reserve was communicated in a recent media release, you can check it out at http://www.vrfish.com.au/media_releases.htm
        
VRFish Hosting Trout Workshop
At its forthcoming State Council Meeting, VRFish will be running a Trout Policy Workshop at the Game Fishing Association of Victoria club rooms on Saturday 24 November 2007. VRFish established an Inland Fishery Policy in March 2004, which included elements for inland, trout, native fish and environmental flows. The recent Australian Trout Foundation ‘Trout Management Policy for Victorian Rivers’ has stimulated discussion in the Victorian recreational fishing community on the future management of trout. VRFish felt it timely to review its Policy and provide interested recreational fishers to give their views on the future of trout. Full details and background papers will be posted on our website. If you would like to register for the workshop, please contact Alison Gibson info@vrfish.com.au or 9686 7077.

Fish Cleaning Tables @ Boat Ramps
At the Melbourne Fishing Show VRFish had a register for recreational fishers to identify boat ramps that they would like fish cleaning tables to be located. The Victorian government will be running a specific grants program for fish cleaning tables which will allow fishing groups and local governments to build facilities at their public boat ramps and jetties. $150,000 a year will be available over the next three years to interested fishing groups and councils. So register your boat ramp with VRFish and we will notify you when the grants program is launched, info@vrfish.com.au or phone 9686 7077.

RIS to be Released in February 2008
The Department of Primary Industries have confirmed that they will undertake the 60-day public consultation process in February 2008 on the Review of Fisheries Regulations 1998. The original project timelines have been delayed due to the size and complexity of the current regulations. The decision to delay was taken with a view to ensure that stakeholders have the best opportunity to provide considered input into the finalization of the new regulations. So stay tuned and VRFish will let you know when the RIS is out!

Review of the Victorian Coastal Strategy
The Victorian Coastal Council is running consultation workshops in regional and metropolitan areas to provide key opportunities for the public to provide input to the revision of the 2002 Victorian Coastal Strategy. This Strategy provides long term planning of the Victorian coast, to ensure the protection of significant environmental features of the coast, to provide clear direction for the future use of the coast including the marine environment, to identify suitable development areas and development opportunities on the coast, and to ensure the sustainable use of natural coastal resources. So to find a consultation workshop near you, go to www.vcc.vic.gov.au

Upcoming events

- 16/11 – Rock Lobster season opens
- 20/11 – Port Phillip & Western Port (PPWP) Inland Fishery Management Plan Public Meeting, 7pm @ Iramoo Community Centre, 84 Honour Avenue, Wyndham Vale
- 21/11 – PPWP Inland Fishery Management Plan Public Meeting, 7pm @ Balla Balla Centre, Berwick-Cranbourne Road, East Cranbourne
- 23/11 – VRFish Board Meeting @ Marine House
- 24/11 – VRFish State Council Meeting and Trout Policy Workshop, 12pm @ Game Fishing Association of Victoria club rooms, 186 Station Street, Edithvale
- 25/11 – Devilbend Reserve Community Workshop, 9.30am @ Peninsula Community Theatre, Cnr Nepean Hwy and Wilsons Road, Mornington
- 27/11 – PPWP Inland Fishery Management Plan Public Meeting, 7pm @ Lilydale Lake Community Room, north end of the main car park on Lilydale-Montrose Road, Lilydale
- 28/11 – PPWP Inland Fishery Management Plan Public Meeting, 7pm @ Epping Memorial Hall, Cnr High Street and Hall Street, Epping
- 1/12 – Murray cod season opening

Alison Gibson
VRFish Administration Officer
VRFish – Victoria’s Recreational Fishing Peak Body
Marine House, Ground Floor, 24 York Street South Melbourne Vic 3205
Telephone: 9686 7077 Facsimile: 9682 1066 Web: www.vrfish.com.au