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

Fish-Fax issue 174, 22nd June 2006

Premier Site program

The Minister Responsible for Fisheries, Bob Cameron, as part of the Governments ‘Boosting Recreational Fishing and Tourism Opportunities' initiative, has named five provincial Victorian water bodies to be developed as Family Fishing Lake – Premier Sites. The Premier sites will be stocked with large, read-to-catch 1kg (approx.) rainbow trout. They will also have a guaranteed standard of access for disabled fishers, and family friendly facilities such as toilets, BBQs, picnic tables and playground equipment.

The five Premier Sites that have been named are:

•  Eildon Pondage;

•  Lilydale Lake ;

•  Kennington Reservoir ( Bendigo );

•  Jubilee Lake (Daylesford); and

•  Hyland Lake (Churchill).

The Department of Primary Industries is working closely with local councils, who are very supportive of the concept, to develop the Premier Sites. The Governments ‘Boosting Recreational Fishing and Tourism Opportunities' initiative has invested $3.2 million into recreational fishing; recognising the activity as a major social and economic contributor to Victorian communities.

Salmonid season closes – but opportunities still abound!

Whilst trout fishing on the majority of Victorian rivers has closed for the season (midnight 12 June until midnight 1 September), Fisheries Victoria would like to remind fishers that there are still plenty of cool weather trout fishing opportunities. These include:

•  Family Fishing Lakes – formerly known as ‘small waters', these waters are heavily stocked prior to the second and third term school breaks;

•  Lakes and impoundments – open year round (except Lake Wendouree );

•  Sea-run trout Rivers – specified sections of coastal rivers that contain populations of sea-run brown trout.

For more information please refer to your Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide 2005-2006 or visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au

Controls to limit abalone virus spread in Victoria's South-west

Strict quarantine measures have been introduced to Victoria 's south-west waters to stop the spread of an abalone virus which has infected littoral reefs adjacent to Port Fairy and forced the closure of four Victorian abalone aquaculture farms. A Control Area has been declared by the Minister for Fisheries, Bob Cameron, along 10 kilometres of coastline west of Port Fairy, following consultation with the local fishing industry. The Control Area extends from the high water mark at Boulder Point (east of the Crags) to the Moyne River mouth at Port Fairy (extending between 200 and 700 metres off shore).

This is the first time that the virus, that causes ganglioneuritis, has been found in Australian waters. It is believed the virus is spread by direct contact between abalone, activity that involves human or equipment contact between an infected and healthy abalone and by other marine species. The Control Area seeks to reduce the risk of human related activity spreading the disease, particularly from reef to reef and over large distances.

The following activities are prohibited in the Control Area:

•  The use of all commercial fishing and abalone equipment and the use of recreational hoopnets, bait traps, recreational haling nets and abalone levers;

•  Anchoring of vessels and fishing equipment; and,

•  The collection or attempted collection of abalone and all shellfish, rock lobster, sea urchins, all other invertebrates and substrate.

May stocking figures

Victorian waters stocked between 22 nd and 29 th of May 2006.

Changes to salmonid regulations – Sea-run rivers and Lake Purrumbete

The Victorian fisheries regulations have recently been reviewed and updated by Fisheries Victoria. Changes have occurred that increase opportunities for recreational fishers.

•  Salmonid fishing from boats at lake Purrumbete is now permitted during the salmonid closed season; therefore salmonid fishing from boats or the bank is now permitted all year round at this location.

•  Selected Victorian rivers have been added to the “sea-run trout streams” list.

•  The Moyne River (downstream of Toolong Bridge ) and Hopkins River (downstream of Hopkins Falls ) are no longer seasonally closed for salmonid fishing.

•  The downstream area of the Merri River has also been extended for year-long fishing from Dennington Railway Bridge to below the Broomfield Weir.