Recreational Fishing Reefs
Recreational fishing is a favourite pastime amongst Victorians.
Fisheries Victoria recognises the social and economic benefits from fishing and are committed to further improving angling opportunities.
This includes enhancing fish habitat through the deployment of recreational fishing reefs for anglers of all abilities, whether they be boat or land based.
Victoria’s bays, inlets and coastal waters provide anglers with access to popular species such as snapper, King George whiting, flathead, bream, calamari and Australian salmon.
Purpose designed recreational fishing reefs have been used in Victoria, elsewhere in Australia and overseas, to provide additional fish habitat in areas where natural habitat is limited.
Three trial reefs have now been deployed and evaluated in Victoria and several more are close to deployment:
- Port Phillip Bay – boat based reefs (video available)
- Port Phillip Bay – shore based reefs
The deployment and management of reefs to improve fishing is in accordance with:
- the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development
- the principles of effective stakeholder consultation
- consideration of other marine users and values, including:
- protecting important fishing grounds for commercial fishing
- boating and shipping navigation
- aquaculture reserves
- sites of heritage significance
- natural habitat features
- marine parks and sanctuaries. and
- public safety.
