Fisheries Victoria
'A fortnightly round-up of recreational fisheries management issues'
Fish-e-Fax Issue 192, 29 March 2007
Go Fishing in Victoria – Family Fishing Event dates
Rock lobster.
As part of the Go Fishing in Victoria (GFIV) initiative, three of the selected Premier Lakes will each host two Family Fishing Events in 2007. Events will be held at Lillydale Lake (Lilydale), Eildon Pondage (Eildon) and Kennington Reservoir (Bendigo). It is a great opportunity for young or inexperienced anglers from all over Victoria to come and try fishing for the first time or learn more techniques to help them improve their fishing tactics.
The first three events for 2007 will be held on the following days:
Saturday 19 May – Eildon Pondage Fishing Festival
Sunday 24 June – Kennington Reservoir Fishing Clinic
Saturday 30 June – Lillydale Lake Fishing Clinic.
A detailed event flyer for the Eildon Pondage event is posted on the GFIV website . Activities and workshops for all ages such as bait and rigging instruction, casting clinics and instructed fishing clinics will be offered throughout the day to give participants all the knowledge and confidence they need to start fishing.
Registrations for the Eildon Pondage event are now being taken via our Customer Service Centre by calling 136 186. To avoid disappointment, Fisheries Victoria strongly encourages participants to register for the event to guarantee a place in the workshops and activities held on the day.
Results from an assessment of Victorian rock lobster stocks
Fishing practices used by commercial and recreational rock lobster fishers have been shown to present a low risk to marine species that are protected and endangered (such as seals and whales), fish that are taken as a by-catch in commercial pots, and important reef habitats and ecosystems in which rock lobster inhabit.
These results were generated by an ecological risk assessment conducted by an expert panel with representatives from the Department of Primary Industries, the Commercial Rock Lobster and Giant Crab Fishery Committee and from Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute.
The panel listed 60 ecological threats that were collected into four categories:
The impact of rock lobster fishing on by-catch and the environment,
Impacts of rock lobster fishing on protected and endangered species,
Ecological risks to reef habitats, and
Ecological risks to the reef ecosystems.
The panel analysed risks that affect not only the rock lobster populations themselves, but also any other threats that may have an impact outside the fishery, such as other marine species or the habitat. The risks were rated on a 6-point scale ranging from negligible to extreme.
Of the 60 threats, 41 were associated with the use of rock lobster fishing gear and fishing techniques. The two highest concerns (that rated moderate) were over-fishing of lobster stocks and the introduction of marine pests. Both are considered to be controllable by using adaptive management practices currently in place.
A further three risks that pose a moderate ecological threat are linked to human activity. These include:
Disposal of off-shore dredge sediments,
Increased turbidity/sedimentation associated with coastal development, and
The introduction of new marine pests.
Climate change rated as the only risk that posed an extreme threat to the reef habitat and fishery.
Free brochure describing management of Native Fish in Victoria
A colourful 8-page brochure has recently been launched by Fisheries Victoria as part of the Go Fishing in Victoria (GFIV) initiative.
The free brochure explains management issues and projects linked to Victoria's popular recreational native species such as Murray cod, golden perch and Australian bass. It explains to readers the importance that habitat protection and improvement, stocking, monitoring and research, angler access and effective compliance has towards the sustainability of native populations.
This brochure has been developed to compliment the "Managing Recreational Trout Fisheries for the Benefit of Victorian Communities" brochure that was released in 2005.
To view or obtain a free copy of either brochure please visit our website .
Abalone virus update
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) continues to investigate an outbreak of a herpes-like virus causing mortality in abalone in Victoria, now known as abalone viral ganglioneuritis.
Abalone samples recently submitted from Cape Otway, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell have all tested negative to ganglioneuritis. There has been no further detection of the disease since the confirmation of its presence in early February on the reef known as "Devils Kitchen" near Portland.
For further information please visit our abalone disease page .
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