From the Minister Responsible for Fisheries

Monday, 10 December, 2007

COMMERCIAL FISHING WITH NETS PROHIBITED IN WESTERN PORT

Commercial net fishing in Western Port Bay is now prohibited following the commencement of legislative changes on 1 December 2007, the Minister Responsible for Fisheries, Joe Helper, announced today.

Mr Helper said licensed commercial fishers affected by the ban have been offered an adjustment package.

“The Rural Finance Corporation is currently working with affected commercial fishers to implement the adjustment package of up to $5 million,” he said.

Mr Helper said the bulk of the commercial catch taken by netting in Western Port Bay was rock flathead, King George whiting, calamari and gummy shark.

The prohibition on commercial net fishing in Western Port is not expected to have any long-term impacts on the supply of fresh fish across Victoria.

Total commercial fish production from Western Port accounted for about two per cent of production from State managed fisheries during 2005/06. Long-line fishing will be allowed to continue.

“The ban on Western Port Bay netting is one of several projects included in the Brumby Government’s recreational fishing and boating policy statement, which was announced in 2006,” Mr Helper said.

The statement allocated $42 million to boost recreational fishing and boating opportunities by creating a new recreational fishing haven, increasing fish stocking and improving facilities.

Other projects identified in the fishing and boating policy statement include:

$3.6 million to undertake a trial artificial reef program, develop an ‘Adopt’ A Stream Program, establish new fisheries such as Devilbend Reservoir, and implement a $450,000 fish cleaning table grants program over three years;

$1.3 million to establish a dedicated native fish production facility in northern Victoria;

$1.2 million to continue the 13FISH (ph.13 3474) hotline in the crackdown on fisheries crime and;

$1.2 million to increase stocking of trout and native fish by 30 per cent over four years.

“Recreational anglers will be pleased to know that the $5 million adjustment package for Western Port commercial fishers is being funded from this allocation rather than the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account,” Mr Helper said.