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A report to each House of Parliament on the disbursement of Recreational Fishing Licence Revenue from the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account, 2006-2007
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The Government continues to foster a strong partnership with recreational fishers by supporting both the fishers themselves and improving fishing environments. Ensuring the productivity and sustainability of Victoria’s world class recreational fisheries remain key issues for the Government as well as providing ongoing opportunities for recreational anglers of all ages and abilities throughout Victoria.
The Government is also committed to ensuring recreational fishers are informed about what their licence fees are spent on, and are given a say in determining that expenditure.
In the 2006/07 financial year over $760,000 of revenue derived from the sale of Recreational Fishing Licences (RFLs) was approved for disbursement to 17 new Recreational Fishing Grant Program (RFGP) projects throughout the State.
The disbursements will fund nine Inland fishery projects exceeding $462,000, five Marine/Estuarine fishery projects exceeding $194,000, and three projects of a State-wide/allwaters perspective exceeding $107,000.
An additional $523,000 of 2006/07 RFL revenue has been committed as matching funding for projects through rounds Four and Five of the Commonwealth Government’s Recreational Fishing Community Grants Program. The total of 2006/07 RFL revenue allocated to grant programs to improving recreational fishing in Victoria exceeds $1.28 million.
Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) Trust Account funds will continue to become available through the annual Recreational Fishing Grant Program to fund projects that improve recreational fishing in the following four project categories:
- Recreational fisheries’ sustainability and habitat improvement (including fish stocking);
- Recreational fishing access and facilities;
- Recreational fisheries research; and
- Recreational fisheries related education, information and training.
During 2006/07, RFL Trust Account revenues have also been committed or disbursed to fund major items including:
- The first repayment of $1 million of a $4 million Advance Appropriation to fund the voluntary buy-out of Bay and Inlet Commercial Fishery Access Licences completed in 2005;
- The ongoing operations of 10 regionally-based Fisheries Officers;
- Costs and expenses incurred in the administration of the RFL, the RFGP, and the Fisheries Revenue Allocation Committee;
- Recreational Fishing Licence sales commissions; and
- Funding for the Victorian Recreational Fishing peak body (VRFish).
During 2006/07, 251,1831 RFLs were sold (through over 950 retail outlets and on-line through DPI’s website), with the sale of the licences generating revenue of more than $5.1 million – an increase of $600,000 on the previous year’s sales revenue. The revenue increase for the 2006/07 financial year is mostly attributed to the introduction, in March 2006, of the new three-year RFL at a cost of $60 – offering a $6 saving on the combined cost of purchasing three one-year licenses at a cost of $66. As such, this new licence has received a high level of support by anglers with 24,817 three-year licences sold.
This revenue result has allowed provision to be made to fund any emerging recreational fishing issues, priority 2006/07 Recreational Fishing Grant Program projects, and the second repayment of $1 million of the $4 million Advance Appropriation to fund the previously mentioned voluntary buy-out of Bay and Inlet Commercial Fishery Access Licences.
This is the seventh report to each House of Parliament on the revenue and disbursements from the RFL Trust Account.
The coming years will see continued collaboration between key stakeholder groups and the Department of Primary Industries to increase recreational fishing opportunities, while ensuring sustainable use of the resource.
Joe Helper MP
Minister for Agriculture
25 September 2007
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