DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

Managing Inland Native Fisheries for the Benefit of Provincial Victoria

Go Fishing in Victoria DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

Introduction protection; education; communication; and enforcement. Victoria’s waters range from fast, snow- fed streams in the mountains, to lazy Catchment-based management plans rivers and creeks flowing down to the are being prepared in accordance with sea. They include inland lakes, river the Fisheries Act 1995. Their purpose systems and water storages, estuarine is to specify policies and strategies for and marine inshore waters and marine the management of specific fisheries. offshore waters out to the 3 nautical mile Management plans describe the main limit. Victoria’s recreational fisheries are fishing waterways, key recreational target diverse and geographically extensive. species and associated management The recreational fishing industry brings arrangements. Plans also identify significant economic and social value, performance indicators, targets and actions and is estimated to involve over 550,000 for managing recreational fishing activities. participants annually. When preparing management plans, Fisheries Victoria, a division of the Fisheries Victoria seek the views of Department of Primary Industries (DPI), recreational fishers and other community manages Victoria’s fisheries resources stakeholders to identify values and issues within an ecologically sustainable associated with fishing. development (ESD) framework to ensure now and for the future. This involves developing and implementing policies and Value and popularity projects and delivering a range of services. of inland angling Almost half of the angling effort in Fisheries management Victoria occurs on freshwater lakes, rivers and streams, resulting in major A variety of practices are used in the economic and social benefits to regional management of freshwater fisheries. The communities. Inland anglers spend more State Government supports recreational than $170 million per year in activities native fisheries through stocking; associated with pursuing various planning; research; construction and freshwater species with Murray , maintenance of infrastructure assisting and being the angler access; habitat restoration and more frequently targeted native species.

Recreational anglers enjoy the benefits of effective fisheries management practices.

 MANAGING NATIVE FISHERIES

Go Fishing in Victoria Victoria’s native fish As part of the Moving Forward statement, Native recreational species are subject the State Government has committed $3.2 to various combinations of bag and million over four years to the Go Fishing in possession limits, size limits and closed Victoria initiative to increase opportunities seasons. For information on regulations for recreational fishing across provincial refer to the Victorian Recreational Victoria, improve recreational fishing Fishing Guide. facilities and infrastructure and boost opportunities for fishing as a family activity. As part of the initiative, sections of the Hopkins, Goulburn and Kiewa rivers will peelii peelii be developed and promoted as Premier Murray cod are the largest Rivers. Preferred river stretches have been species of freshwater fish in selected in consideration of their high and have been known recreational angling value and accessibility. to reach over 100 kilograms. An information package will be developed Distribution is widespread throughout for each of the river stretches identifying the Murray-Darling system. They have key access points and the type of fishing also been successfully introduced into experience and facilities they provide. a number of other impoundments. Two of the three Premier Rivers contain Habitat requirements include deep holes populations of native species with high in river systems and ample in-stream recreational value. The lower Goulburn cover. Scientific tracking studies have River downstream from Murchison offers demonstrated that Murray cod make many land-based access points and relatively large upstream movements to contains good populations of Murray cod spawn before making a return journey. and golden perch. The lower section of Murray cod are stocked annually into many the Kiewa River between Dederang and its Victorian lakes and rivers. Productive confluence with the supports waters for recreational anglers seeking a stock enhanced Murray cod fishery. The Murray cod include the Goulburn, Loddon, Hopkins River offers quality fishing for Ovens, Campaspe and Kiewa rivers and estuarine species such as black bream and impoundments such as Lake Eildon. . Popular methods include bait fishing This initiative also involves the current with yabbies, bardi grubs or from development of five Premier Lakes which sandbars and around snags. Other anglers will be partly stocked with large (>1kg) prefer to try and entice cod out of their rainbow trout and will be the focus of hides by casting various types of lures free Family Fishing Events. For further from the bank or trolling from a boat. information on the Go Fishing in Victoria initiative visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/gofishing

Murray cod are a highly prized fish, with many anglers choosing to release large fish like this immediately after capture.

 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

Australian bass are known to reach 57 centimetres in length and 3.4 kilograms in weight, but are most commonly caught between 750 grams and 1 kilogram. The Australian bass is carnivorous, feeding in estuaries mainly on shrimp, , worms and smaller . In freshwater they will Silver perch also feed on terrestrial insects that fall into the water. Golden Inland waters in the Gippsland region such perch as Blue Rock Lake and Lake Glenmaggie, as ambigua well as Lake Bullen Merri in the South–West Golden perch occur naturally in tributaries have all been stocked with Australian bass of the Murray-Darling system. Introduced for recreational purposes. Wild populations populations exist in a number of other can be found in streams such as the Snowy waters, streams and lakes. and Genoa rivers. Golden perch can adapt to a variety of Australian bass in these lakes are most environments but occur most frequently active during the warmer months. They in warm, discoloured, slow moving inland are a highly regarded sports fish and waters and associated backwaters and require a good deal of finesse to catch with billabongs. Also referred to as ‘yellowbelly’, any regularity. Light rods and tackle are they are commonly caught up to about 5 required and a variety of soft plastic and kilograms in weight by anglers, but can small bibbed lures can be used to tempt grow larger. this species. Popular waters for golden perch include Other native species impoundments such as Lake Eildon, Anglers may encounter a number of other Lake Eppalock and Lake Hume and the native species in Victoria. Silver perch, Catfish Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon rivers. Macquarie perch and freshwater catfish Smaller streams such as the Broken Creek can only be legally taken from a small are also productive. number of defined waters. They are also Fishing methods are similar to that for heavily regulated by bag and possession Murray cod with baits such as worms, limits. shrimp and small yabbies favoured. Blackfish inhabit coastal and inland Casting spinnerbaits and bibbed lures is streams throughout the state and are a an active and exciting way to fish for nocturnal species that can be caught on golden perch. Blackfish scrubworms and yabbies. Long and short- finned eels are also popular with some anglers in streams and lakes throughout the southern half of the state. Endangered species such as the and Australian grayling are fully protected. Taking or attempting to take these fish, including catch and release, is prohibited. Australian grayling Other recreational fishing opportunities are provided by such as yabbies and spiny freshwater crayfish Australian bass which are popular catch amongst anglers. Yabbies are prolific throughout much of Macquaria novemaculeata northern Victoria and can be captured with Australian bass occur naturally in Victoria, recreational hoop nets and baited lines. east of Wilsons Promontory. Found in Spiny freshwater crayfish are most active coastal rivers and lakes, they are tolerant during the colder months of the year. of freshwater and can move well upstream.

Trout cod

 MANAGING NATIVE FISHERIES

Habitat requirements of of instream objects such as logs and rocks depletes habitat. Introduced species native fish compete with native species for habitat Native species distributed through the and food. state’s north (ie. Murray cod, golden perch Poor land management practices such as and freshwater catfish) show a preference the removal of riparian vegetation and for warm, turbid, sluggish waters, and unrestricted stock access lead to erosion require structures such as logs and stumps and siltation problems. This has major that afford cover and provide spawning sites. implications for the health of Victoria’s Australian bass occur naturally in the native fish. estuarine and freshwater stretches of coastal rivers. Macquarie perch prefer Habitat rehabilitation the cooler, upper reaches of Victorian Efforts are now being made to address tributaries in the Murray-Darling system, the habitat loss and deterioration of and are found in rivers with our rivers and streams. Exclusion of cooler water and submerged timber. stock and replanting of native riparian Most of these native fish breed in spring vegetation to stabilise the banks will and early summer, and specific water result in a reduction in bank erosion and temperatures trigger spawning in different instream sedimentation. This is the first species. step. Restoration of instream habitat such as logs and woody structure is Impacts on habitat next. Restoring more natural water flow regimes is also important. The bulk of Habitat degradation is a major cause of habitat rehabilitation work is managed loss of species diversity and population by catchment management decline of freshwater fish. Artificial authorities, often in partnership instream barriers such as dams, weirs, and with private landowners and road crossings impede fish movement and other land managers. seasonal migration. Water releases from dams can alter the water temperature, affecting reproductive cycles. The removal

Between Murchison and Shepparton, the Goulburn River contains numerous snags which create prime habitat for Murray cod and golden perch.

 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

Fishing regulation Recreational Fishing Fishing activities in all Victorian public Licence waters are managed under the provisions A Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) covers of the Fisheries Act 1995 and the Fisheries all forms of recreational fishing in all of Regulations 1998. The main purpose Victoria’s marine, estuarine and fresh of regulations is to protect fish stocks waters. Unless you are exempt, an RFL from excessive fishing pressure and to is required when taking, or attempting define and encourage responsible fishing to take from public waters, any species behaviour. of fish by any method, including line Various combinations of bag limits, size fishing, bait collection, gathering shellfish, limits and closed seasons are employed yabby fishing, prawning and spearfishing. to manage stocks of native species. Bag Information on purchasing a RFL and limits are designed to conserve existing categories of people that are exempt is stocks and ensure that the recreational available at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing take by recreational fishers is sustainable. You are advised to carry your RFL with Minimum size limits protect juvenile fish, you at all times while fishing (unless you allowing them to reach sexual maturity, are exempt from the requirement to hold and closed seasons protect stocks during an RFL). Fishers exempt from holding an spawning when they are most vulnerable. RFL are advised to carry evidence of their exemption. Penalties apply for fishing without a licence.

Any fish caught that does not comply with fisheries regulations should be released carefully back into the water.

 MANAGING NATIVE FISHERIES

Stocking waters. Waters affected by severe drought may become the focus of recovery plans Stocking programs are an integral element once favourable conditions return. in conserving native fish species and providing improved recreational fishing opportunities. Between November and Stocking criteria Stocking criteria are defined in Protocols April each year, over 700,000 native fish for the Translocation of Fish in Victorian fingerlings, averaging less than 1 gram Inland Public Waters. For a particular each, are released into waters north of waterway to be considered for stocking the Great Dividing Range. Murray cod and with any species for recreational purposes golden perch make up the bulk of these the following conditions need to be taken stockings. into account: More recently, selected lakes south of • there is reasonable expectation that the Great Divide have been stocked with the habitat is suitable for survival and Australian bass to establish recreational growth fisheries. Trout cod and silver perch are stocked into certain waters to re-establish • the natural recruitment (current populations within their natural range, or natural breeding) is insufficient to boost declining populations. support a fishery • the fish are accessible to anglers Stocking plans are reviewed and developed annually as part of consultative • there is a reasonable expectation that meetings held across the state with the enough anglers will fish the water to Victorian Recreational Fishing peak body justify the expense involved (VRFish), water authorities and catchment • the waters are within the known former management authorities. natural range of the species Stocking plans are often varied to take • the conservation status of other into account the changing water levels native fish species or unique faunal that affect the carrying capacity of stocked assemblages are not put at risk.

Stocking summary Since 2000 several million native fish have been stocked into Victorian waterways. Murray Golden Australian Silver Trout cod* cod perch bass perch

Average Annual 222, 685 497, 407 23, 666 14, 166 33, 881 Stocking (2000-2005)

* Stocked for conservation purposes by the Department of Sustainability and Environment

Golden perch fingerlings are released into many Victorian waters as part of the native fish stocking program. These fish will reach the minimum legal length in three to four years.

 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

Fish for the future Further information The Victorian Government will continue to Please visit Fisheries Victoria section of the work with recreational fishing stakeholders DPI website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing to ensure our native fisheries are

conserved and are managed to provide Published by Department of Primary Industries, Melbourne, outstanding fishing opportunities for the Victoria, Australia. February 2007 benefit of all Victorians. To achieve this © The State of Victoria, 2007 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by goal the government will continue to any process except in accordance with the provisions of the support programs for research, stocking, Copyright Act 1968. planning, enforcement, education and Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia habitat restoration and protection. Fish illustrations: Alexis Beckett and Krystii Melaine Cartoon illustrations: Paul Lennon ISBN 978-1-74106-952-5 Report illegal fishing Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you but the Call 13 FISH (133 474) anytime State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly The Department of Primary Industries appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence welcomes reports of suspected illegal which may arise from you relying on any information in this fishing activities anywhere in Victoria. publication. For more information about DPI visit the website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au or call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Adhering to fisheries regulations and releasing fish carefully are important steps in conserving fish stocks for the future.