Victorian Government flags commercial netting ban for Gippsland Lakes

The move will become a boon for recreational fishers, although the call has angered commercial operators who have argued their take has little to no impact on fish stocks on the 350-square-kilometre enclosed lake system.

Recreational fishers will rally on the Paynesville foreshore on Sunday afternoon to build community support for the buy-out.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews surprised the industry by announcing via a fishing show on community television that the government intended to buy out the remaining 10 commercial licences.

"We think the time for commercial netting in the Gippsland Lakes is over," Andrews told Channel 31’s Talking Fishing. "We are going to move to compulsorily buy back those licences … they don't work for the environment, they don't work for recreational fishers."

Commercial net fishing has been a part of Gippsland Lakes history since the late 1800s, and today yields anywhere between 200-300 tonnes of seafood a year. Around 60 tonnes of bait – regulated under commercial fishing licences – are also pulled out of the Lakes system each year.

Major species caught by the commercial fishing industry include bream, flathead, mullet, luderick, tailor, silver trevally and prawns.

The Labor State Government has gone all-out to lure recreational fishers to back it in polling booths on November 24, promising a range of measures including improved access at overcrowded loading ramps, removing a number of the fees that make the activity more expensive for participants.

The Matthew Guy-led Liberal Opposition has also pledged to use more of the revenue collected from fishers to improve waterside facilities and fish stocks in answer to strong pre-election lobbying from the Boating Industry Association of Victoria, which established the ramprage.com.au website.

The state’s recreational fishers look to gain a big win from the November 24 election no matter which party takes power – assuming they live up to their promises.