Better Fisheries and Fishing for the Future
We need your ideas!
A discussion paper, ‘Future Fisheries Strategy: Proposals for Reform’, was released in October 2011. It sets out draft proposals for the improvement of fisheries management in Victoria. The public comment period is still open to provide feedback. We would welcome your written submission before 1 March 2012.
What it is
A major theme of the discussion is more secure access for fishing sectors. All sectors want to know their fishing grounds will not be arbitrarily removed in the future and that things impacting on fish stocks will be managed.
Our aim is to build a stronger foundation for fishing in Victoria so that:
- we have healthy fish stocks
- recreational fishers can continue to enjoy their sport
- commercial fishers and charter operators can run their businesses with greater confidence
- Aboriginal fishers can fulfil their cultural traditions and community aspirations
- all fishing sectors get better opportunities to be involved in fisheries management.
We also want to cut unnecessary red tape and rules.
What it isn’t
The proposed Future Fisheries Strategy is not about marine parks. The Victorian Government has a clear policy of no new marine parks.
This strategy is not about setting individual quotas for recreational fishing.
There will be no change to the process for allocating Recreational Fishing Licence funds under the Fisheries Act 1995. These funds will continue to deliver priority projects that improve fishing, based on advice from the recreational fishing community.
How we share the fish
One of the major issues up for discussion is the concept of ‘resource sharing’. This is the approach proposed to make sure there are enough fish for the recreational sector, commercial sector and Aboriginal sector, to recognise each sector’s existing access to the resource, and to better define this entitlement.
We believe most fishers know they need to limit their catches so fishing is sustainable. We need to move away from the uncertainty and debate that has occurred about access to fish stocks shared between the commercial and recreational fishing sectors.
A first step is to put more effort into estimating the size of the overall recreational catch for the most popular fish species. We have catch information from commercial fishers. It’s difficult to sustain our fish stocks and protect fishers’ interests, if we cannot quantify the recreational catch.
We propose to use the recreational catch and effort information, along with the existing commercial catch and effort information, to confirm the existing percentage ‘shares’ that these two sectors have in a fishery. This would be based on current shares and would not result in ‘re-allocation’ from one sector to another.
We would continue to ensure that recreational fishing is open to everyone and to use bag limits and size limits to manage harvest. Similarly, quotas or other fishing rules would be used to manage commercial catches. These ‘management tools’ would be adjusted up or down over time based on the best available scientific information and fishing expertise. An exemption might be necessary if there is a major concern about the sustainability of a fish stock, such as the protection of trout cod in freshwater.
It is not proposed to manage day to day recreational fishing in a different way under this system. It does not mean that catch will be monitored in ‘real time’ and that fishing will be ‘stopped’ within a season. Instead, we would conduct recreational fishing surveys every three to five years to inform future decisions.
We want to spend more time working with recreational, commercial and Aboriginal fishers on how we can improve the value they get from the use of Victoria’s fisheries.
Contributing to costs
We are considering changes to improve the way commercial fishers pay for the delivery of the science, management and compliance services necessary to sustainably manage commercial fisheries.
The current approach charges fishers for previous services, lacks transparency and limits the potential to work together on improving fisheries management services. An open and forward-looking approach is proposed to support active discussion with commercial fishers about the design of more cost effective services. These proposals will require DPI to improve its business processes.
Recreational fishers also contribute to science, compliance and other services through their licence fees. We will continue to discuss and deliver priorities with recreational fishers.
As a separate action, we are working with representatives of the recreational fishing community to look at ways to improve the Recreational Fishing Licence, including options to simplify the current licensing arrangements (including across State borders), cut the administrative burden on tackle shops selling licences and improve communication with fishers. This is separate to the proposed Future Fisheries Strategy.
Our commitment
We will continue to work closely with recreational, commercial and Aboriginal fishers to deliver other improvements for them.
We are currently:
- delivering the Victorian Government’s $16.2 million Recreational Fishing Initiative over the next four years to boost fish stocking, facilities and access
- delivering a range of actions to improve commercial fishing
- finalising the Aboriginal Fishing Strategy.
More information
There’s a lot more information in the Future Fisheries Strategy: Proposals for Reform paper, which is available on the DPI website at http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fisheries.
You are also welcome to contact Anna Battese on (03) 9658 4357 or anna.battese@dpi.vic.gov.au, if you would like more information about the strategy.
Please send written submissions by 1 March 2012 to:
DPI Fisheries
GPO Box 4440
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Attn: Future Fisheries Strategy
Or by email to: anna.battese@dpi.vic.gov.au
All submissions will be carefully considered and used to inform the final strategy.
