Inland Waters Recreational Fishing Classification

Inland Waters Recreational Fishing Classification Building better fisheries in Victoria Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series No. 80 November 2010 If you would like to receive this information/publication in an accessible format (such as large print or audio) please call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186, TTY 1800 122 969, or email [email protected]. Published by the Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Victoria, November 2010 © The State of Victoria 2010. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Reproduction and the making available of this material for personal, in-house or non-commercial purposes is authorised on the condition that: • the copyright holder is acknowledged as the owner; • no official connection is made; • the material is made available without charge or cost; and • the material is not subject to inaccurate, misleading or derogatory comment. Preferred way to cite this publication: Department of Primary Industries 2010. Inland Waters Classification. Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series No. 76. ISSN 1448-1693 ISBN 978-1-74264-544-5 (print) ISBN 978-1-74264-545-2 (online) Authorised by the Department of Primary Industries 1 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000. Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. For more information about DPI go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au or phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. ii Fisheries Victoria Contents Acknowledgements iv Introduction 1 Fisheries Management Arrangements 5 Gippsland Region 8 North East 16 Central Region 25 North Central Region 33 West Region 39 Appendix 1 - Impoundments 44 Appendix 2 - Species names 46 References 47 Inland Waters Recreational Fishing Classification iii Acknowledgements The preparation of the Inland Waters Classification would not have been possible without the personal time, voluntary commitment and dedication demonstrated by members of the Inland Waters Classification Working Group. Fisheries Victoria would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals. Inland Waters Classification Working Group Members Rod Barford Christopher Collins Wally Cubbin Mick Hall Craig Ingram Geoff Lacey Ron Lewis Robert Loats Merv McGuire Pat Sheridan Nick Thorne Technical advice William Trueman Chair Anthony Plummer iv Fisheries Victoria Introduction The Inland Waters Classification reviews all rivers, Purpose streams, lakes and impoundments in Victoria and classifies each water as a trout, native or mixed The purpose of the Classification is to support the fishery to develop and promote Victorian inland development and promotion of trout, native and mixed recreational fisheries. fisheries. The Classification will map and broadly describe the range of angling species in the context of waterway management, biodiversity and socio-economic values. Background The objectives of the Classification are to: More than 720,000 anglers contribute $2.3 billion to 1. Classify Victorian rivers, streams and impoundments Victoria’s regional economy through recreational fishing based on native, trout and mixed fisheries. related annual expenditure. At least sixty per cent of anglers 2. Secure, grow and share potential benefits from Victoria’s fish in inland and estuarine waters (VRFish 2009). inland fisheries with the wider community by using In November 2006 the Victorian Government committed to established and contemporary knowledge of Victoria’s working with anglers to classify rivers and streams fisheries. throughout the State. 3. Inform natural resource management agencies of the This classification scheme will be used to identify how management of waterways from a fisheries-based different rivers and river systems would be managed in the perspective. future as ‘native only’, ‘trout and salmonid only’ or ‘mixed’ 4. Communicate fishery management objectives and fisheries. These fisheries are largely defined already by the provide greater transparency. natural range in which different fish species can survive, but formalising future management objectives would serve to bring greater security and transparency over future actions in these areas. Scope The Classification is constrained by the following. The Fisheries Victoria undertook a process to classify inland Classification: waters in Victoria. This Inland Waters Classification is based on The Victorian Inland Waters Classification Model 2008 1. will not consider classification of streams, rivers and (the Model) prepared by Fisheries Victoria in consultation impoundments based on fishing method. (For example, with a Stream Classification Committee. The Committee the Classification will not be based on the use of lure, fly included members of Native Fish Australia, Australian Trout or bait fishing methods) Foundation and VRFish. The cooperation and collaboration 2. will not affect existing access of any waters to any fisher. between these groups demonstrated significant goodwill in representing recreational fishers and assisted Fisheries 3. will not consider different size and bag limits for fish Victoria in the preparation of the Model. within classifications unless there is evidence of sustainability concerns. A draft Model was presented at public meetings in Bright, Wodonga, Corryong and Melbourne and released for public 4. will not affect fisheries regulations such as closed comment in May 2008. Following consideration of the public seasons or closed waters for native or trout fisheries. submissions, the Model was endorsed by the Minister for Agriculture on 23 March 2009. 5. will inform but will not dictate fish stocking. Decisions on fish stocking will be made through the established The Model outlined a process for classifying rivers, streams consultative process1. and impoundments into the categories of native, trout and mixed fisheries. The Model applied a trial classification to the 6. will inform but will not determine the conservation and North East region as a first step in the statewide application biodiversity aims of other agencies. of this new Classification. The Model provided the framework for the Classification outlined in this document. 1 As prescribed by the Department of Primary Industries Fish Stocking For Recreational Purposes policy. Inland Waters Recreational Fishing Classification 1 Where a Preliminary Assessment finds variable Classification process classifications in different areas of a waterway, the waterway This fishery Classification process was undertaken by may need to be divided geographically into different Fisheries Victoria in consultation with an Inland Waters categories using easily identifiable boundaries such as Classification Reference Group (the Reference Group). roads, bridges, reservoirs, towns or river junctions using the Criteria Assessment. Where the Preliminary Assessment The Reference Group comprised individuals with expertise in finds a consistent classification outcome along the length of trout, native and mixed fisheries and included the waterway, this classification should be applied. representatives of Native Fish Australia, the fishing industry, the Australian Trout Foundation and VRFish. Criteria Assessment The Classification was released for public comment and the To decide the appropriate locations to divide the waterway, Reference Group considered all comments prior to finalising the Criteria Assessment should consider the following: the Classification. The public submissions resulted in the Reference Group recommending changes to boundaries of Flow: Does the waterway section have a natural unregulated Native, Mixed and Trout classified in some areas. flow or regulated flow? Classification of waters was a two-stage process as Habitat: What are the habitat conditions in sections of the prescribed in the Classification Model where a Preliminary waterway? Assessment may be followed by a Criteria Assessment to Identifiable structure: Are there identifiable structures such determine waterway Classification. The Preliminary as stream junctions, towns or bridges to act as landmarks to Assessment considers factors on the entire waterway area to divide the fishery classifications. determine a broad classification. This may be followed by a Criteria Assessment to determine a location to divide a waterway, where the classification varies along its length. There is no weighting or hierarchy in either the Preliminary or Development principles Criteria assessments. This Classification is based on the Classification Model which outlined the scope and key principles that should Preliminary Assessment guide the classification of waters. The principles and scope Species evidence: Species known to be present in the aim to ensure the classifications are practical and consistent basin. with government policy. Known range of species: The recorded range of angling Principles: The following guiding principles were used to species throughout the waterbody or reach, including develop the Model and this Classification: credible historical records. (a) Simple to understand and apply Waterway management: How the waterway is managed in (b) Useable and cost effective to develop relation to the requirements of the angling

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