Fisheries Victoria
'A fortnightly round-up of recreational fisheries management issues'

Fish-Fax issue 172, 25th May 2006

Pilot Survey of recreational fishing in coastal Victoria , 2006/07

With over half a million recreational fishers in Victoria just how can you efficiently and reliably estimate the number of fish these anglers catch?

Commencing in April 2006, a number of anglers across Victoria will be randomly contacted by PIRVic scientists and asked a series of questions about their fishing habits in Victoria 's coastal marine waters (including Western Port and Port Phillip Bay ).

On the basis of the screening survey, selected anglers will be asked to participate in a year-long survey to provide information about their fishing activities. These anglers will be issued with a fishing diary and asked to record the details of each and every fishing trip undertaken. This is to aid their memory, as interviewers will ring regularly to get the details of their fishing activities.

Trained telephone interviewers will be undertaking both components of the survey. Randomly selected RFL holders from the 2004/05 database will be contacted during the screening survey.

The screening survey will be inquiring about all recreational fishing methods, but the ongoing survey will only include the results of recreational line fishing in saltwater, and excludes other fishing methods, such as diving, nets, traps and spears.

Similarly, the screening survey will enquire about fishing activity for any aquatic species, but with specific questions on previous catches and future targeting of particular species (flathead, snapper, King George whiting, black bream, garfish, Australian salmon, calamary or squid, rock lobster and abalone). Species of interest for the ongoing survey include all aquatic species actually caught by line fishing.

All data collected will be strictly confidential and will not be reported in any form that would allow individuals to be identified. The survey is part of a project that has been funded by Fisheries Victoria and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

For more information about this project please contact Sandy Morison at Primary Industries Research Victoria Queenscliff on 03 5258 0232.

Enforcement News

Two fishermen have been caught illegally fishing in Lake Mokoan after a tip off to the Department of Primary Industries' 13 FISH (13 3474) illegal fishing hotline. The two men from Melbourne were observed checking three long lines with a total of 35 hooks, designed to target golden perch. The equipment and some fish were seized and the men charged.

A man from Eden has been convicted and fined a total of $400 plus court costs after pleading guilty to two fisheries offences. In December 2005, Fisheries Victoria officers conducting routine recreational inspection patrols in the Lakes Entrance area found the man to be in possession of 22 litres of mussels. The recreational daily bag limit for mussels is 10 litres. Members of the public are reminded to report suspicious or illegal fishing activity to the

13 FISH (13 3474) 24 hour, 7 days a week reporting line.

Abalone bag limit reduction considered

Fisheries Victoria is considering issuing a fisheries notice to reduce the recreational abalone daily bag and possession limit in the west and east of the state to reduce abalone crime. There have been reports of increased activity by organised abalone thieves acting within recreational abalone fisheries, particularly in the western part of the state. The western waters extend from Aire River to the South Australian border and the eastern waters extend from Arch Rock to the New South Wales border.

Since September last year, 63 people have been seen, intercepted or apprehended for their suspected or actual involvement in abalone crime. Many of these persons had a history of abalone theft in central Victorian waters.

Victoria has one of the world's last remaining sustainable wild abalone fisheries and this type of behaviour can have a significant impact on abalone stocks close to shore in areas popular with legitimate recreational divers.

Fisheries Victoria is, therefore, considering introducing precautionary management measures by reducing the daily bag and possession limit. There will be further discussions with the Victorian Recreational Fishing peak body, VRFish, and other stakeholders before a final decision is made

Victorian lakes water level update

For the week ending 19 May 2006