1 Part 1 Introduction Fishing is one of the most popular recreational Victorian recreational fishers for recreational pursuits in Victoria, with more than 800,000 fisheries in the upper Goulburn River Victorians participating in fishing at least once catchment. a year (Tourism Victoria 1995). The recreational fishing sector (including support industries) In doing so it must: generates approximately 27,000 associated jobs ● ensure that the use and management of the and is estimated to contribute approximately fishery resource is consistent with the $1.265 billion per annum to the Victorian principles of ecological sustainability; economy (Unkles 1997). ● ensure that the management of the fishery is consistent with other conservation and A fisheries management plan is a public natural resource management aims of the document which clearly outlines future Department of Natural Resources and management directions and arrangements for Environment (DNRE) and other agencies recreational and/or commercial fishing for (such as Goulburn-Murray Water, Goulburn individual water-bodies or species within a Broken Catchment Management defined area. Authority); and As the Government agency responsible for ● develop guidelines for the resolution of fisheries, the role of Fisheries Victoria is to be issues between user groups. a lead advocate for fish habitat protection in The development of the GERFMP involves public waters and to manage recreational, direct participation by Victorian recreational commercial and traditional fisheries and fishers. It operates in an inclusive manner to commercial aquaculture in Victorian waters. ensure that the wider stakeholder groups are In doing so, Fisheries Victoria recognises and informed of progress and have every supports the need for protection of species opportunity to have input into the GERFMP. listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Development of the GERFMP was led by a (FFG) Act 1988 from the impacts of fishing and steering committee with strong representation other influences. from key stakeholder groups in the upper The primary focus of the Goulburn-Eildon Goulburn region. Region Fisheries Management Plan (GERFMP) is on the recreational fisheries of the region. Nevertheless, GERFMP also aims to influence 1.1 Partnerships Essential for and assist those engaged in biodiversity, water Delivering Outcomes and catchment management programs to In striving for effective fisheries management, improve the quality of fish habitats through the strengthening of partnerships between all their policies and actions. It also identifies the stakeholders is critical. need and opportunities for improving fish habitat and controlling noxious species. At a broad level, the fisheries management arrangements specified in the GERFMP will be The overall aim of the GERFMP is to achieve led by DNRE (Fisheries Victoria and Northern the best possible match between the fisheries Region). The inputs to environment, management objectives and the aspirations of biodiversity and land use plans and programs will be coordinated by DNRE in partnership Goulburn-Eildon Region Fisheries Management Plan 2 with the Goulburn Broken Catchment For example, fisheries management is within the Management Authority (GBCMA).Water Government’s Energy and Resources portfolio, storage management plans will be coordinated while biodiversity, catchment management and by Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW). In water management are within the addition to input from these agencies, the Environment and Conservation portfolio. Victorian Recreational Fishing peak body representing the interests of Victorian Within the Environment and Conservation recreational fishers, VRFish, has also developed portfolio, habitat and environmental planning policies on native fish and salmonid fisheries outcomes are delivered through an integrated and environmental flows. framework of regional catchment strategies and catchment action plans (salinity, water), An important role of all agencies and key river health plans, bulk water entitlements, stakeholders will be facilitation of community streamflow management plans and Victoria’s involvement and information programs. whole of Government Biodiversity Strategy. This portfolio also includes the Flora and Specific projects will be developed on a Fauna Guarantee Implementation Plan collaborative basis, similar to the Recreational (FFGIP), addressing: Fishing Licence funded ‘Angler access and stream habitat restoration project’ being conducted in ● instream temperature profiles the Goulburn River by the GBCMA in ● flow patterns conjunction with DNRE. ● sedimentation While the main direct outcomes of fisheries ● removal of woody debris management plans are focused on the ● fish passage impediments sustainable use and allocation of fisheries ● threatened species actions resources, the health of aquatic ecosystems is fundamental to the sustainability of these As an overarching framework for aquatic resources. In addition, if not managed and environmental management, the Victorian conducted sensitively, activity associated with Government is currently developing a State fishing can have adverse impacts on the River Health Strategy (SRHS) to set the aquatic environment and instream ecosystems directions for all the major management on which the health of the fishery depends. functions that affect the health of rivers and their associated floodplains and wetlands. The Accordingly, fisheries management plans must SRHS will: identify environmental issues and ● identify environmental, recreational, cultural, impediments, and recommend the appropriate social and economic assets for the State’s management responses. waters, and the current condition of the asset and its comparative community value; Once identified, these issues and their importance to fish and fisheries form ● identify processes threatening these values important inputs to a number of Victoria’s and the severity of the risk involved; natural resource planning processes. ● identify opportunities for restoration of any degraded values and requirements for In understanding the development of the restoration; GERFMP, a clear understanding of the ● set broad priorities for action; and relationships between Victoria’s resource management frameworks, and the linkages ● identify the key specific actions required between management planning processes, are and their overall priority (for example if both important. flow is a threat, then a streamflow management plan may be required; if the threat is increased incidence of algal blooms, then a nutrient management strategy will be needed). Part 1: Introduction Goulburn-Eildon Region Fisheries Management Plan 3 More detailed catchment based waterway There are a number of other documents that health action plans (WHAPs) based on the form part of the strategic planning framework SRHS will be developed by each Catchment affecting the Goulburn River region. These Management Authority (CMA). include: Nationally based Actions under the FFGIP and the WHAPs will 1. Draft Murray-Darling Basin Commission deliver many of the desirable fisheries Native Fish Management Plan outcomes identified in the GERFMP, but are separate to direct actions under the GERFMP. 2. National Fishing Code of Practice The habitat and environmental issues State based identified in each of the issue-specific action 1. State Environment Protection Policy plans, including fisheries management plans, (Waters of Victoria) will be integrated and articulated in each 2. Draft Heritage Rivers Plan WHAP as river health objectives for the major Catchment based river reaches within each catchment. 1. Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management A reporting program that will enable Strategy monitoring and achievement of both resource 2. Fishing Tourism Action Plan 2000 - 2003 condition and implementation targets in these and Regional Tourism Strategy processes can be included in the WHAP 3. Draft Waterway Strategy for Goulburn- framework to illustrate how the issues Broken Catchment identified in the GERFMP are being addressed. Planning framework Part 1: Introduction Goulburn-Eildon Region Fisheries Management Plan 4 Locality based ● public authorities (such as catchment and 1. Lake Eildon Storage Management Plan water managers) must have regard to 2. Lake Nagambie Storage Management Plan relevant fisheries management plans and, (Water Quality and Biodiversity Strategy) before taking any action that is inconsistent 3. Upper Goulburn Recreational Waterways with a fisheries management plan, must Strategy consult with the Secretary of DNRE. 4. Yea River Stream Flow Management Plan In accordance with this framework, guidelines for the development of the Goulburn-Eildon 5. King Parrot Creek Stream Flow Region Fisheries Management Plan were Management Plan published in the Government Gazette on 13 6. Goulburn Broken Water Quality Strategy May 1999 (See Section 4.4: Appendix C). 7. Lake Eildon National Park Management Plan Victorian Government policies on the 8. Shire planning schemes stocking of native and salmonid fish, translocation of fish, and biodiversity 1.2 Planning Framework conservation are also important parts of the framework for the GERFMP. The Fisheries Act 1995 (the Act) and fishing regulations provide Victoria’s framework for The guidelines and Part 3 of the Act describe sustainable use of living aquatic resources, the scope, aim, process and key features of protection of fish habitats, promotion of the GERFMP. In addition to these legal sustainable quality recreational fishing