Commercial netting comes to a close in Corio Bay
No April Fool's joke, commercial net fishing ended in Corio Bay on April 1, 2018, as the transition of Port Phillip Bay to a rec-only fishery continued apaceCommercial net fishing in Corio Bay officially came to an end on Sunday, April 1, delivering on the State Government's commitment to cease commercial net fishing throughout Port Phillip Bay by 2022.
The Andrews Labor Government said it will mean more fish like snapper, King George whiting, flathead and calamari will be available for families to catch themselves, with flow-on economic benefits to regional tourism businesses like tackle shops and trailerboat retailers and dealers.
TARGET ONE MILLION ANGLERS
In 2016, 33 of 43 licence holders left Port Phillip Bay's commercial net fishery, accepting compensation packages funded through the Labor Government's Target One Million initiative. One further licence holder is currently in the process of exiting the fishery.
These 33 licence holders who have departed the fishery caught 87 per cent of the commercial catch of fish targeted by recreational fishers. Their departure delivered the expected benefits for recreational fishers well ahead of the original eight-year time frame allocated to transition Port Phillip Bay into a rec-only fishery.
The remaining nine licence holders may continue to fish using existing methods, including nets, under a strict catch limit, the Labor Government said. Of those nine, eight elected to stay in the non-net fishery after 2022 using mainly longlines, fishing lines and squid jigs.
WHITING STOCKS UP IN PORT PHILLIP BAY
The good news for recreational anglers continues with recent research by the Victorian Fisheries Authority confirming another excellent year of juvenile King George whiting settlement in the bay, which should make for terrific fishing from 2019 to 2021 when they grow to a catchable size.
"We said that all commercial net fishing would be removed from Corio Bay by April 2018 and that's exactly what we've done," said Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford.
"Our bay fishery is going from strength to strength and removing commercial net fishing will only hasten its development as a mecca for saltwater anglers."
Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville said local anglers already report a great improvement in fishing for flathead, calamari and whiting.
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