Labor to boost fishing in Vic

A Labor Government in Victoria will invest $35 million to phase out commercial netting, upgrade fishing clubs and increase the number of recreational fishers to one million by the year 2020, says leader Daniel Andrews.

Under Labor’s plan, Target One Million,  the party says it will encourage more Victorians to take up fishing, which currently contributes $2.3 billion to Victoria’s social and economic wellbeing. "By supporting clubs and phasing out commercial netting, we can increase the number of recreational fishers to one million by the year 2020.” “By supporting clubs and phasing out commercial netting, we can increase the number of recreational fishers to one million by the year 2020," said Mr Andrews.

If elected, Labor says it will:
>> Allocate $20 million to halt commercial netting in Port Phillip and Corio Bays over eight years, increasing fish stocks for recreational anglers and offering a clear and fair exit strategy for licence holders. Labor will impose a sliding cap on the commercial catch, based on the average catch over the previous three years. The cap will reduce each year to prevent licence holders from expanding their operations.  Labor will also ban netting at the mouth of the rivers in the Gippsland Lakes.

>> Establish a $10 million Better Fishing Facilities Fund to develop new recreational fishing reefs, improve boat launching facilities and access to waterways, and install fish cleaning tables and fish aggregating devices.

>> Invest $5 million in Target One Million’s stocking and education programs. Under the plan, all fishing clubs will be eligible for ‘Stronger Fishing Clubs’ grants of up to $2000 to promote membership and fishing in their community. Labor says it will also implement a marine species stocking program in Victoria’s drought-affected bays and inlets and increase fish stocks from three million to five million a year. School education and children’s fishing programs will also be established with Parks Victoria.

Labor tells us it will also take action to maintain Lake Toolondo as Victoria’s best trout fishing location, open recreational trout cod fisheries in Beechworth and aim to stock 15,000 one year old barramundi into Hazelwood Pondage to create a new recreational fishery for the Latrobe Valley. In addition, no new marine parks will be established under Labor.

Meanwhile, in Geelong over the weekend the Friends of Corio Bay and Keep Australia Fishing took to the streets to protest against netting in the Bay and in Port Phillip.

In a Rally that has been called the largest in years, thousands of recreational fishers turned out to support the netting  ban. Fishing identity Rex Hun who acted as MC for the event said it was a great example of 'people power'. The rally included speeches by Minister Peter Walsh and Shadow Minister Jacinta Allan.