DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES Management Plan Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series - No. 28 Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
No. 28 April 2006
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
April 2006
Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series No. 28
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
Published by the Department of Primary Preferred way to cite this publication: Industries, Department of Primary Industries (2006). Fisheries Victoria Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management GPO Box 4440 Plan - 2006. Fisheries Victoria Management Report Melbourne Victoria 3001. Series No. 28. © The State of Victoria, Department of Primary Copies are also available from the website: Industries, 2006. www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing This publication is copyright. No part may be Follow the links – Managing Fisheries, produced by any process except in accordance Management Plans and Strategies. with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Disclaimer Reproduction and the making available of this This publication may be of assistance to you, but material for personal, in-house, or non-commercial the State of Victoria and its employees do not purposes is authorised on the condition that: guarantee that the publication is without flaw or is • The copyright is acknowledged as the owner; wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for an error, • No official connection is claimed; loss or other consequence which may arise from • The material is made available without charge you relying on any information in this publication. or cost; and This management plan cannot be used in a court of • The material is not subject to inaccurate, law. Fishing laws change from time to time. It is misleading or derogatory comment. your responsibility to ensure that you are acting within the law. If you are in doubt seek Requests to reproduce or communicate this independent legal advice. material in any way not permitted by this licence (or by the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright For further information on this management plan Act 1968) should be directed to the Nominated or on recreational fishing in general contact the Officer Copyright, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, Department of Primary Industries Customer 3000. Service Centre telephone 136 186 or visit the Department’s web site at Authorised by Victorian Government, 1 Treasury www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing/. Place, Melbourne. For further information on the activities of the ISSN: 1448 - 1693 Victorian Recreational Fishing peak body (VRFish) ISBN: 1 74146 507 8 telephone (03) 9854 6167 or visit the VRFish web site at www.vrfish.com.au.
For more information about DPI, visit the website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au or call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan ii Table of contents
Executive summary ...... 1
Introduction ...... 2 Description of Anderson Inlet and its Catchment ...... 2 Declaration of Anderson Inlet as a Fisheries Reserve ...... 4 Recreational Fishing...... 4 Biology and Ecological Requirements of Key Target Recreational Fish Species...... 5 Historical use of the Inlet by Indigenous Australians...... 7 Commercial Fishing...... 8 Other Water-Based Uses of Anderson Inlet...... 9
Current Management Arrangements...... 10 Legislative and Policy Framework for Fisheries Management...... 10 Current Controls on Fishing ...... 11 Fishing by Indigenous Australians...... 12 Fishery Co-management Arrangements...... 12 Management of Non-Fisheries Uses/Values in and around the Inlet...... 12
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan ...... 16 Duration of the Plan...... 16 Review of the Management Plan ...... 16 The Planning Process...... 16 Management Goal and Objectives ...... 17 Strategies for Recreational Fishing ...... 18 Strategies for Maintenance of Fish Habitat...... 18
Recreational Fishing Opportunities ...... 19 Strategy 1 – Identify fishing values in Anderson Inlet ...... 19 Strategy 2 – Maintain or enhance levels of satisfaction with fishing opportunities ...... 19 Strategy 3 – Identify and encourage responsible recreational fishing behaviour...... 20
Sustainable Use of Fish Resources...... 21 Strategy 4 – Identify key target species and monitor fishery trends for these species...... 21 Strategy 5 – Determine the status of key target fish stocks...... 21 Strategy 6 – Protect key recreational fish species utilising Anderson Inlet ...... 22
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
iii Maintenance of Fish Habitat...... 24 Strategy 7 – Identify important habitat for key fishery species...... 24 Strategy 8 - Engage other agencies to maintain and enhance fish habitats ...... 25
Issues Affecting Recreational Fishing Opportunities ...... 27 Strategy 9 - Engage other agencies to maintain or improve access to fisheries resources...... 27
Research and Monitoring...... 38 Planning and Priorities...... 38 Potential Funding Sources ...... 39
Compliance with Fishing Controls...... 41 Fisheries Compliance in Anderson Inlet...... 41
Management Plan Implementation...... 43 Key Implementation Actions...... 43 Costs of Implementation...... 43
References ...... 44 Literature bibliography ...... 44
Appendices ...... 47 Appendix 1 - Declaration of Anderson Inlet as a Fisheries Reserve...... 47 Appendix 2 - Ministerial Guidelines for Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve...... 48 Appendix 3 - Management Plan Steering Committee ...... 49
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan iv
Executive summary
The purpose of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries In view of the lack of information on recreational Reserve Management Plan (AIFRMP) is to specify fishing and key fish habitats in the inlet, most the objectives, strategies and performance existing fishery management arrangements will measures for managing fishing activities within initially remain unchanged while the focus is on the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve. establishing programs to characterise the recreational fishery; monitor fishery trends and the The AIFRMP has been prepared under the status of key target species; and identify key fish requirements of the Victorian Fisheries Act 1995 habitats in the inlet. and has been developed in accordance with gazetted Ministerial guidelines. The AIFRMP If information from these programs indicates a prescribes fishery management arrangements for need to alter fishery management arrangements in the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve in accordance the future, to ensure sustainable use or to meet with a nationally agreed framework for applying changing demands for recreational fishing the principles of Ecologically Sustainable opportunities, then changes will be considered in Development to fisheries. consultation with stakeholders. The AIFRMP describes: Indicative costs and priorities for implementation of the AIFRMP are provided. Annual progress • the geography of Anderson Inlet; available reports and a 10-year review process will allow information on recreational fishing activities; fishery management arrangements for the and other values/uses of the inlet and Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve to be adapted to surrounds that may affect recreational fishing changing future circumstances, ensuring opportunities; sustainable use of fisheries resources with • current management arrangements for fishing maximum economic and social benefits to the activities and for other relevant values/uses of community. the inlet and surrounds; A Reference Group will be established to work • goals, objectives, performance indicators and with the Department of Primary Industries to actions for management of fishing activities in deliver the key management outcomes from the the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve; and AIFRMP. • processes for participating in management of other relevant values/uses in and around the inlet, to ensure that any possible concerns regarding consequences for recreational fishing can be raised and considered.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
1 Introduction
On 3 July 2003, Anderson Inlet was declared a Description of Anderson Inlet and fisheries reserve under the provisions of section 88 of the Fisheries Act 1995. The defined area of the its Catchment Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve is the estuarine Anderson Inlet (Figure 1) is a small (about 20 km2) waters of Anderson Inlet and the Tarwin River estuarine lagoon at the mouth of the Tarwin River. below the Tarwin Lower Road Bridge, but not It is located near Inverloch, about 140 km south - including the area of Cape Liptrap Coastal Park east of Melbourne, and has a catchment area of between high and low water marks. The Notice about 1,600 km2. published in the Victorian Government Gazette Anderson Inlet is a shallow estuary, with about indicated that the purposes of the Anderson Inlet 85% of the area consisting of intertidal mud or Fisheries Reserve is to: sand flats (both bare and vegetated), and the • provide for enhanced recreational fishing remaining 15% consisting of channels and islands. opportunities; Apart from the Tarwin River, other smaller streams flowing into Anderson Inlet include Screw
• improve the management and monitoring of Creek, just to the east of Inverloch, and Pound recreational fishing activities; Creek and Cherry Tree Creek, further east along • improve the management and monitoring of the northern shore of the inlet. any other issues that are likely to have an Harrison et al., (1990) produced a Resource impact on recreational fishing opportunities; Directory to aid in the management of various and uses of natural resources in and around Anderson • enable the development of a management plan Inlet. This document is the only known for the reserve, which includes specified compilation of detailed information on the controls on access, activities and equipment, physical environment, flora and fauna, and human and a strategy for ensuring compliance with uses of the inlet and surrounds. these controls. The climate of Anderson Inlet is typical of coastal areas of south-east Victoria, with generally warm The Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management to hot and dry summers and cold, wet winters. Plan (AIFRMP) specifies the objectives, strategies Mean annual rainfall is about 920mm at the inlet and performance measures for managing fishing and more than 1000mm in some parts of the activities within the Anderson Inlet Fisheries catchment, with twice as much rain falling in Reserve, and was developed in consultation with winter months as in summer months (Harrison et recreational fishers and other interested sectors of al., 1990). the community. The AIFRMP formalises fishery management arrangements for the next 10 years in Subtidal water temperatures in the inlet display accordance with the principles of Ecologically substantial seasonal variation (summer maximum Sustainable Development (Fletcher et al., 2002). about 22°C; winter minimum about 11°C). Intertidal waters are slightly cooler than subtidal The AIFRMP also describes other uses, activities waters in summer because of evaporation, and and environmental processes in and around slightly warmer in winter because of solar heating. Anderson Inlet that may influence fishing Temperatures in the upper estuary at the mouth of opportunities or the productivity of fish habitats in the Tarwin River are slightly warmer than at the the inlet. The AIFRMP identifies agency mouth of the inlet near Inverloch in winter, and responsibilities and processes for management of significantly warmer in summer. these non-fishing uses/activities, and actions needed to ensure that any possible concerns The lower end of the inlet is dominated by sandy regarding consequences for fishing or fish habitat substrate, mainly of marine origin. There is can be raised and considered in the appropriate substantial movement of these sands, driven forums. mainly by shoreline erosion due to wave action – particularly around Point Smythe – and by tidal water currents.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 2
Figure 1: Map of Anderson Inlet and surrounds showing the main geographical locations, townships, tributaries and boat launching facilities Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
3 The upper end of the inlet and the lower reaches of Spartina infestation is particularly severe adjacent inflowing waterways are dominated by fine to Venus Bay, leading to community concerns over sediments deposited from the catchment. The narrowing and shallowing of channels leading to Tarwin River catchment has been extensively Fisherman’s Jetty; possible adverse impacts of modified for agricultural uses – mainly dairying Spartina invasion on mangrove/saltmarsh and grazing of cattle and sheep. Substantial communities; and possible denial of intertidal clearing of indigenous vegetation from the habitat to fish stocks. Given the highly variable catchment (estimated loss of over 80% since physical and ecological processes described above, European settlement), and agricultural land use it is likely that prevailing habitat and practices, have contributed to increased erosion environmental conditions are exerting a and sediment deposition and at least one substantial influence on the distribution and eutrophication event which probably occurred in abundance of key fish stocks in Anderson Inlet the top part of the estuary and lower part of the quite apart from any direct effects of fishing. Tarwin River in December 1988 (Harrison et al., 1990; NREC, 1991). Construction of drainage Declaration of Anderson Inlet as a canals and levee banks has also affected inundation of wetlands in some areas around the Fisheries Reserve inlet. While the rivers and streams flow all year Prior to the November 2002 State election, the round, a large portion of the total sediment and Victorian Government indicated its commitment to nutrients deposited in the inlet occurs during improving recreational fishing opportunities by floods or high flows resulting from heavy rainfall proposing the establishment of fisheries reserves events. in three Gippsland estuaries: - Anderson Inlet, Lake Tyers and Mallacoota Inlet. The proposals Anderson Inlet and surrounding areas attract up for Lake Tyers and Mallacoota Inlet included the to 30,000 visitors a day in peak season, many of removal of commercial fishing, other than fishing whom engage in water-based recreational for eels and bait. Commercial fishing had already pursuits. Parts of the foreshore of the inlet, been removed from Anderson Inlet. particularly around Inverloch, are increasingly being affected by residential and tourism Public submissions received between October and development (NREC, 1991). Focal points for December 2002 indicated majority public support development and recreational activities include for these proposals. Consequently Anderson Inlet the Inverloch area, Venus Bay Estates and Tarwin was gazetted as a fisheries reserve on 3 July 2003 Lower. (see Appendix 1), to be managed primarily for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing recreational Whilst productive fish habitats such as seagrass fishing opportunities. beds remain in some areas of the inlet, introduced species such as the tussock grass, Spartina, have proliferated. Seagrass distribution in Anderson Recreational Fishing Inlet is very low with only 2% of the inlet being Results of the recent National Recreational and covered (Blake et al., 2000). Historical information Indigenous Fishing Survey (Henry and Lyle, 2003) indicates that the inlet floor was once more indicate that approximately 550,000 Victorians or extensively covered by seagrass, and it has been 13% of the State’s population went recreational suggested that invasion of intertidal areas by fishing in the 12 month period prior to May 2000. Spartina and natural succession events may be Approximately 43% of total Victorian recreational responsible for the decline (DCNR, 1994; Blake et fishing events in 2000/01 occurred in bays, inlets al., 2000). and estuaries, including Anderson Inlet. Most of this effort would have been expended in the larger Spartina was first introduced to the Anderson Inlet bays and estuaries such as Port Phillip Bay and the area in the 1940s and again in the early 1960s to Gippsland Lakes. Nevertheless smaller estuaries aid in land reclamation, stabilise intertidal such as Anderson Inlet are popular for local mudflats, increase grazing land at low tide and residents and increasing numbers of seasonal assist with the prevention of coastal erosion (Rash visitors from Melbourne and other provincial et al., 1996). The area of Anderson Inlet infested cities. with Spartina had increased to about 64 ha by 1980, 100 ha by 1991, 240 ha by 1998 (DNRE, 1998) and The National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing to more than 300 ha at present. This species is Survey also found that Victorians spent thought to have the potential to colonise nearly all approximately $400 million on goods and services intertidal areas of the inlet. associated with recreational fishing activities
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 4
during 2000/01. This was equivalent to $721 per The 1989 survey of 293 recreational users of fisher per year – the highest per capita expenditure Anderson Inlet found that 55% of them visited the in Australia. Approximately two thirds of this inlet to engage in recreational fishing, and that expenditure occurred in the Melbourne fishing was the third most popular recreational metropolitan area, but it is nevertheless clear that activity after beach walking and swimming. recreational fishing can have a significant impact The angler survey produced an estimate of 19,500 on local or regional economies. daytime fishing trips or 97,500 angler hours Profile of Recreational Fishing in the applied to Anderson Inlet in 1990. The estimated Inlet mean catch rate of 0.66 fish per angler hour Most recreational fishing in Anderson Inlet is resulted in an estimated total retained recreational angling. Angling occurs year round in the inlet catch of about 64,000 fish with an estimated weight but the peak period is from October to April when of more than 19 tonnes (Smith, 1991). The author weather conditions are most favourable and of the survey report noted, however, that due to visitors have holiday time available (Harrison et the limited sampling strategy used in the survey al., 1990). Fishing is mainly from small powered these estimates were not particularly reliable. boats launched from boat ramps at Inverloch, The main components of the 1990 recreational Maher's Landing, Lower Tarwin or Venus Bay catch were flathead, Australian salmon, silver (Fisherman's Jetty). Shore based fishing also trevally, yellow-eye mullet, King George whiting occurs in some locations (eg. around Inverloch, and estuary perch. For all these species the Screw Creek, Tarwin Lower, Fisherman's Jetty and estimated recreational catch weight exceeded the Point Smythe), but much of the inlet is inaccessible reported commercial catch weight in the inlet for for this purpose. Hand spearing for flounder is the same time period (see Table 1). also permitted in parts of the inlet. Key Fish Species Targeted and/or Caught Biology and Ecological Angling club records, information provided from Requirements of Key Target public consultation processes for this management Recreational Fish Species plan, and other observational evidence indicates that in recent years the main target species for The following descriptions of the biological and recreational fishers in Anderson Inlet have been ecological characteristics of key target fish species estuary perch, Australian salmon, silver trevally in Anderson Inlet are derived from published and yellow-eye mullet. Media reports from 1992 literature. While some recreational fishers have to 1997 also recorded recreational catches extensive knowledge of the distribution and containing King George whiting. A limited creel behaviour of key fish species in the inlet based on survey conducted in 1990 (Smith, 1991) indicated personal observations, there has been little or no that flathead (probably several species but mainly scientific investigation of the distribution, sand flathead) was the biggest component of the population dynamics or ecological requirements of daytime recreational catch in the inlet. Other these fish species in Anderson Inlet. species that are caught in the inlet or have been Estuary Perch targeted more frequently in the past include black As the name implies, estuary perch are resident in bream, luderick, elephant fish, gummy shark, estuaries of south-eastern Australia from northern garfish, snapper, tailor, ling, calamari squid, NSW through Victoria and Tasmania to the mouth flounder, eels, sea pike and mulloway. of the Murray River in South Australia (Williams, Fishing Catch and Effort 1970). The only survey information on recreational Examination of fish caught in netting surveys of fishing specifically for Anderson Inlet comes from Victorian estuaries (McCarraher and McKenzie, a survey of recreational users of the inlet in 1989 1986) indicated that estuary perch spawn during (Harrison et al., 1990), and from monthly daytime winter and spring months. Spawning is usually angler counts, on-site interviews and examination earlier in the season in Gippsland estuaries, and of angling club records over the period 1989 – 1991 progressively later in estuaries to the west. Perch (Smith, 1991). Apart from these surveys there has in spawning condition were most often found in been no systematic monitoring of recreational waters with salinities between 10 and 24 parts per fishing in Anderson Inlet, and thus there are no thousand and over seagrass or algal beds or rock recent estimates of total recreational catch or effort. reefs.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
5 The Victorian netting surveys indicated that extremes, such as the brackish and turbid waters estuary perch were generally most abundant in of estuaries, or the hyper-saline waters of the Gippsland estuaries, and that they grew and South Australian gulfs. survived best in estuaries containing deep- Western juveniles feed on bottom-dwelling prey channelled rivers and frequently or permanently such as fishes, crabs and shrimps. Eastern open entrances. juveniles feed on zooplankton but are known to Little is known of the early life history stages of also prey on bottom-dwelling fauna such as fishes, estuary perch, but nursery areas for small squid, crustaceans and polychaete worms during juveniles are thought to be in the upper reaches of winter months (Robertson, 1982). estuaries. Larger juveniles and adult perch are Larger juvenile salmon (>30cm length) move out of known to be associated with submerged tree bays and estuaries into more exposed coastal branches and seagrass beds where they can shelter waters, such as around rocky headlands and along and feed as ambush predators on smaller fish and surf beaches. Maturing salmon school up and crustaceans. move east or west along the southern coast to the Netting surveys of Anderson Inlet and the lower respective spawning grounds of each species. Tarwin River in the early 1980s (McCarraher, 1986) Migrating schools of adult salmon will sometimes found estuary perch to be one of the most ‘rest up’ near the mouths of inlets such as abundant fish species in the estuary at the time. Anderson Inlet, and may occasionally move into One of the most popular fishing spots for this such inlets to feed. species in the inlet is ‘The Snags’, where erosion of the Point Smythe shoreline has resulted in trees Silver Trevally being submerged. Trevally species of the genus Pseudocaranx are widespread in temperate and sub-tropical waters Australian Salmon of Australia, New Zealand, the Indian Ocean and Australian salmon are migratory, schooling the Atlantic Ocean (James, 1984). Studies in the marine fishes found in coastal waters, bays and early 1990s revealed that silver trevally in estuaries of southern Australia and up the east and Victorian, Tasmanian, South Australian and west coasts to approximately 30°S(Kailola et al., Western Australian waters consist of two very 1993). similar species, P. dentex and P. wrighti (Gomon et al., 1994). Morphological and genetic studies (MacDonald, 1980, 1983) have confirmed two species of salmon Juvenile silver trevally occur over soft substrates in in southern Australian waters - western salmon estuaries, bays and shallow coastal waters, whilst (Arripis truttaceus) in waters of Western Australia, adults are found either in shallow coastal waters South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, and or forming pelagic schools in deeper waters of the eastern salmon (A. trutta) in waters of southern continental shelf (Last et al., 1983; James, 1976). NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Spawning occurs during summer (Lenanton, Western salmon predominate in western and 1977). Adult fish in spawning condition have been central Victorian waters and are relatively recorded from both estuaries and offshore areas common as far east as the Gippsland Lakes, while (Winstanley, 1985), but any spawning ground eastern salmon predominate in East Gippsland preferences have not been defined. waters and are relatively common as far west as Silver trevally can live for more than 40 years Port Phillip Bay. The two salmon species thus (James, 1978) and can grow to a maximum of 94 overlap in central Victorian waters (including cm total length (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986) Anderson Inlet) where they can be found mixed and up to 6.0 kg in weight (Last et al., 1983). together in the same schools. However, trevally larger than about 38 cm length Western salmon spawn between February and are uncommon in Victorian bays, estuaries and June in coastal waters of south-west Western shallow coastal waters. Australia. Eastern salmon spawn in coastal waters Trevally are opportunistic carnivores, adapted to of East Gippsland and southern NSW over the both benthic and planktonic feeding modes. The period November to April. benthic diet consists primarily of polychaete In Victoria both western and eastern salmon up to worms, molluscs and small crustaceans, while 2+ years are found predominantly in bays and surface schools of trevally consume planktonic estuaries, often in association with seagrass beds. crustaceans - particularly euphausids (krill). They can tolerate temperature and salinity Juvenile trevally mainly consume micro
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 6
crustaceans (Winstanley, 1985). Seasonal feeding al., 1990; McKay, 1992). However, few fish caught preferences occur in adult trevally with a summer in Victorian bays and inlets exceed 40 cm total diet of essentially crustaceans shifting to mainly length or 1 kg. bivalve molluscs and teleosts in winter (Anon., 1981). Historical use of the Inlet by King George Whiting Indigenous Australians King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctata) are Prior to European settlement two main aboriginal endemic to marine embayments, marine sections groups utilised the natural resources of Anderson of estuaries and shallow coastal waters of southern Inlet. These were the Yowenjene people, the most Australia from central NSW to the central west easterly clan of the Bunurong tribe, and the coast of Western Australia. The southern limit of Jatowarawara, a clan of the Kurnai tribe of the species’ distribution is the north coast of Gippsland. The Tarwin River divided the home Tasmania (Kailola et al., 1993; Gomon et al., 1994). ranges of these two groups (Chapman et al., 1987; Although small juveniles are common in tidal Harrison et al., 1990; DNRE, 1998). estuaries and creeks, this species is primarily a The lower reaches of the Tarwin River provided resident of marine waters, being unable to tolerate the Yowenjene clan with a variety of foods salinities much less than that of full sea water. including swan eggs, roots and plants, along with King George whiting are found in most shallow, fish, eels, kangaroo and possums. Marine shellfish sheltered coastal waters of Victoria, but are most were also a popular choice for the Yowenjene clan abundant in large marine embayments such as with numerous middens found in close proximity Corner Inlet/Nooramunga and Port Phillip Bay. to Venus Bay (Chapman et al., 1987). Other species of whiting found in Victorian waters A dramatic decline in population numbers of both include the eastern school whiting (Sillago the Yowenjene and Jatowarawara clans coincided flindersi) and the east coast sand whiting (Sillago with the arrival of European sealers and whalers ciliata). to the central Victorian coast in the early 1800’s. Adult whiting in breeding condition, or small This was thought to be due to conflict over whiting less than about 100 days old, are virtually resources as well as the introduction of disease absent from bay and inlet waters of central (Chapman et al., 1987). Massola (1974) reported Victoria. It has therefore been hypothesised that that by 1850 only a handful of the original recruitment to these areas is derived from population from the Jatowarawara and Yowenjene spawning in coastal waters to the west of Port clans remained on the coast. Phillip Bay, and that recruitment from as far west Sites of Cultural Significance as South Australian waters may be possible A number of coastal shell middens have been (Jenkins and May, 1994; Jenkins et al., 2000). reported in the Anderson Inlet area, particularly in Available evidence from studies of gonad the Cape Liptrap Coastal Park and also in the maturation and ageing of post-larvae indicate that vicinity of Screw Creek. These middens contain King George whiting spawn during autumn or the remnants of shellfish as well as other species early winter. To date the only known spawning like kangaroo and fish that were eaten by the local area for King George whiting is open coastal Aboriginal people over hundreds of years (AAV, waters of South Australia (Jones et al., 1990; 2002). No middens or other aboriginal cultural Jenkins et al., 2000). heritage sites have been reported from within the boundaries of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve The species has a long planktonic larval life, with area to date. post-larvae settling into very shallow, sheltered marine habitats in Victorian bays and inlets at 100 Shell middens are thought to be amongst the most - 170 days of age (Jenkins and May, 1994). fragile sites of cultural significance due to their Juveniles remain in sheltered marine waters, exposure to varied climatic conditions and human usually in association with seagrass habitats, for 2- interference by unauthorised vehicle and 3 years, after which they begin to move to deeper, pedestrian access. Measures recommended to more open waters (Kailola et al., 1993). prevent or mitigate damage to cultural sites have included stabilising the area by revegetation and King George whiting have a reported maximum controlling access through fencing of sensitive life span of 15 years (from scale ageing in South areas. Australia), a reported maximum length of 72 cm and a reported maximum weight of 4.8 kg (Jones et
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
7 Commercial Fishing consistently less than 5,500 kg. This declining trend in annual commercial catches is thought to Commercial fishing for finfish commenced in the be due to a combination of factors, including mid-1800s and continued until 2000. declining commercial fishing effort applied in the The main fishing methods used by commercial inlet, a decline in the capacity of the inlet to fishers were mesh (gill) nets, haul seine nets and support fish populations due to habitat and hand lines. The main species recorded from environment changes, and increasing pressure on commercial catches were Australian salmon, key fish stocks from the combined impacts of yellow-eye mullet and silver trevally, and more recreational and commercial fishing (Smith, 1991). recently estuary perch, luderick, rock flathead, Table 1 summarises mean annual commercial fish bream and King George whiting. Catches were catches (kg) from Anderson Inlet between 1978 mostly sold as fresh table fish through the and 2000. The Table shows that during this last Melbourne markets or through local outlets. period of the commercial fishery yellow-eye Available commercial fishing catch and effort data mullet (46%) and estuary perch (18%) together indicate that prior to World War II annual accounted for nearly two thirds of total commercial catches from Anderson Inlet were commercial catches from the inlet. mostly between 15,000 and 30,000 kg. From 1945 There is still one fishing licence that permits to the mid 1970s annual commercial catches were commercial eel fishing and several licences that mostly between 5,000 and 15,000 kg. From 1980 to permit commercial bait fishing (mainly pumping its closure in 2000 the Anderson Inlet commercial for sand worm) in Anderson Inlet and/or the lower fishery produced annual catches that were reaches of the Tarwin River.
Table 1. Annual commercial fish catches (kg) from Anderson Inlet during 1978 to 2000
Species Highest Catch Lowest Catch Mean Annual Catch % of All-Species Catch
All species combined 8128 43 2910 100.0%
Australian salmon 890 3 226 7.7% Bream, black 250 0 75 2.6% Elephant fish 50 0 4 0.1% Flathead, rock 190 0 31 1.1% Flathead, sand 145 0 18 0.6% Flounder 52 0 14 0.5% Garfish 650 0 66 2.3% Luderick 854 0 246 8.5% Mullet, sea 268 0 27 0.9% Mullet, yellow-eye 6543 6 1337 46.0% Perch, estuary 1777 0 511 17.6% Sea pike 65 0 7 0.3% Shark, gummy/school 105 0 18 0.6% Snapper 8 0 1 <0.1% Tailor 26 0 3 0.1% Trevally, silver 1056 0 268 9.2% Whiting, King George 283 0 46 1.6% Other/Unspecified 44 0 11 0.4%
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 8
The water area of Anderson Inlet, particularly at Other Water-Based Uses of low tide, is relatively small. While the inlet has the Anderson Inlet capacity to support a variety of water craft Anderson Inlet, particularly the Inverloch area, has activities, increasing demand for these activities – been an increasingly popular recreational particularly during peak holiday periods - is destination for visitors from Melbourne or the leading to congestion. LaTrobe Valley since the late 1800s. The resident Watercraft can gain access to Anderson Inlet by population of Inverloch is estimated to increase coming in through the inlet entrance from coastal tenfold during the peak summer holiday period, waters or by being launched from boat ramps and Venus Bay is becoming increasingly attractive located at Inverloch, Mahers Landing, the Tarwin as a holiday and retirement destination. The main River at Tarwin Lower, Fishermans Jetty (Venus attractions of the area are beach and water Bay) or Flat Rocks (just outside the inlet). Access recreational activities, scenic landscapes and to the main channel may be restricted due to sand wildlife observation (DNRE, 1998). movement. The main water-related activities undertaken in The Inverloch boat ramp is popular due to good and around the inlet are beach walking, car/trailer parking facilities and the proximity of swimming, fishing, recreational boating, diving, other retail and hospitality services, however boat use of personal water craft (jet skiing), water launching and recovery can be difficult during skiing, wake boarding, sailing, wind surfing, kite peak periods and in adverse weather conditions. surfing and observation of water birds. Mahers Landing is often used as an alternative by Water Craft Activities locals. Anderson Inlet is used for a number of watercraft Shore-based Activities activities. Sailboats, sailboards, and personal Major shore-based activities identified by Harrison water craft are used predominantly in the lower et al., (1990) and in the Inverloch Foreshore and half of the estuary wherever sufficient depth of Anderson Inlet Management Plan (DNRE, 1998) water is available. include walking, playing on the beach, swimming, Powerboats are used for water skiing purposes snorkelling, diving, sunbathing and wildlife mainly in a deep channel adjacent to Point Smythe observation. Due to limited shore access around and in a designated area where the Tarwin River the inlet these activities are mainly concentrated in enters the inlet near Tarwin Lower. a few key areas including the Inverloch Foreshore, around boat ramps, the Tarwin River boardwalks, Canoeing and kayaking occurs throughout the and the inlet shoreline of the Cape Liptrap Coastal inlet in suitable weather and tidal conditions. Park including Point Smythe. Dive charter operators normally take their clients to dive locations in open waters of the Bunurong Intensive use of these limited shore access coast, but will conduct dives inside Anderson locations within Anderson Inlet has in some cases Inlet, usually in the vicinity of Point Smythe, if resulted in environmental degradation, including diving conditions are unfavourable outside the vegetation removal and disturbance, erosion, inlet. uncontrolled vehicle and pedestrian access, and establishment of pest plants and animals (Harrison et al., 1990).
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
9 Current Management Arrangements
Following the removal of commercial fishing management plans; facilitates participation of (other than for eels and bait) from Anderson Inlet stakeholders in fisheries management via fisheries in 2000, and the declaration of the inlet as a co-management arrangements; and prescribes fisheries reserve in 2003, the focus for fisheries enforcement powers to assist in achieving management has shifted towards maintaining, and compliance with fishing controls. where possible improving, recreational fishing The Regulations prescribe detailed management opportunities in the inlet. arrangements for individual commercial and The following sections describe the policy recreational fisheries, including licence framework, legislative tools, management requirements, restrictions on fishing equipment processes and current controls that apply to and methods, restrictions on fishing catch and/or recreational fishing in Anderson Inlet and other effort (bag limits, size limits, closed seasons/areas), Victorian waters. and penalties for breaches of fishing controls. Legislative and Policy Framework It is important to note that the provisions of fisheries legislation (including Fisheries Notices) for Fisheries Management can only be applied to the control of fishing Legislation activities. Other human activities (eg. catchment Fishing activities in the Anderson Inlet Fisheries land use, foreshore management, competing Reserve and in all Victorian public waters are water-based recreational activities) that may managed under the provisions of the Fisheries Act directly or indirectly affect fish habitats, fishery 1995 (the Act) and the Fisheries Regulations 1998 resources or the quality of fishing, are managed by (the Regulations). different agencies under a variety of other legislation. The Act provides a legislative framework for the regulation and management of Victorian fisheries Policy and for the conservation of fisheries resources, All Australian governments, including Victoria, including their supporting aquatic habitats. The have made a commitment to manage fisheries objectives of the Act include:- according to the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD). These principles to provide for the management, development • include: and use of Victoria's fisheries, aquaculture industries and associated aquatic biological • ensuring that fishing is carried out in a resources in an efficient, effective and biologically and ecologically sustainable ecologically sustainable manner; manner; • to protect and conserve fisheries resources, • ensuring that there is equity within and habitats and ecosystems including the between generations regarding the use of fish maintenance of aquatic ecological processes resources; and genetic diversity; • maximising economic and social benefits to • to promote sustainable commercial fishing and the community from fisheries within the viable aquaculture industries and quality constraints of sustainable utilisation; recreational fishing opportunities for the • adopting a precautionary approach to benefit of present and future generations; management – particularly for fisheries with • to facilitate access to fisheries resources for limited data; and commercial, recreational, traditional and non- • ensuring that the processes and procedures consumptive uses; involved in management of a fishery are • to encourage the participation of resource appropriate, transparent and inclusive. users and the community in fisheries There is an expectation in Australia and management. worldwide that utilisation of fish resources will be The Act provides for the development, managed according to these ESD principles, and implementation and review of fisheries reserve
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 10
they have been followed during the development traps, bait pumps, recreational bait nets and of the AIFRMP. recreational hoop nets are prescribed in fisheries regulations and summarised in the Victorian Indigenous Fishing Activities Recreational Fishing Guide. In November 2000, the Victorian Government signed a Native Title Protocol with the Aboriginal While Anderson Inlet has been managed as marine and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) waters in the past, its status as either marine or and the native title representative body, Native inland waters for the purposes of fisheries Title Services Victoria. The protocol agreed to the legislation needs to be more clearly defined. development of a Statewide policy framework to Size and Catch Limits address a broad range of native title related issues, Legal minimum sizes, bag limits, possession limits including fisheries. (in, on or next to fishing waters) and vehicle limits Initial discussions with stakeholder groups have for fin fish and invertebrate species that may be been held to identify fisheries issues relating to encountered by recreational fishers in Anderson native title. Inlet are prescribed in fisheries regulations and summarised in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Victoria is currently working with Indigenous Guide. community representatives, other Australian fisheries authorities and other fishing stakeholders Some size and catch limits have been introduced to develop a national set of principles and as measures to protect fish stocks from heavy pathways to facilitate definition and lasting fishing pressure. However, many of these limits recognition of customary fishing practices; have been adopted on ethical or cultural grounds, increased opportunities for economic engagement such as the definition of a reasonable take for of Indigenous communities in fisheries-related personal consumption. enterprises; and increased Indigenous participation in all aspects of fisheries use and Requirement to Land Fish in Whole or management. Carcass Form For some fish species with high commercial Indigenous support for such a framework will not market value there is a requirement to retain affect the legal rights of Indigenous people or limit captured fish in whole or carcass form until after their scope to pursue other options. However, it is they have been landed (brought ashore), in order considered that such a framework will be better to ensure compliance with recreational size and able to deliver practical outcomes within the catch limits. Marine or estuarine fish species foreseeable future than litigation. required to be landed in whole or carcass form include all shark species, elephant fish, King Current Controls on Fishing George whiting, bream, snapper and eels. In the Recreational Fishing Licence case of sharks and elephant fish ‘carcass’ means a A Recreational Fishing Licence is required for fish which has been gutted and headed forward of angling, spear fishing, bait pumping, hand the first gill slit, but has not been skinned or collecting and all other forms of recreational filleted. In the case of scale fish ‘carcass’ means a fishing in Victorian public waters, including fish which has been scaled and gutted, but has not Anderson Inlet. However, some sectors of the been headed or filleted. community, including people under 18 or over 70 Intertidal Collection of Shellfish years of age, holders of a Victorian Seniors Card, Collection of most mollusc species from the and recipients of various age, disability or veterans intertidal zone of central Victorian waters – benefits, are exempt from the need to hold a including Anderson Inlet - is prohibited. Mollusc licence to go fishing. species exempted from this ban include squid, Recreational Fishing Equipment cuttlefish, octopus, pipis and squirters. Dead The Regulations define "recreational fishing shells may also be collected. equipment" as including a rod and line, handline, The use of a scoop, dredge, fork, spade, rake dip/landing net, bait trap, spear gun, hand-held shovel or other digging implement to collect spear, bait pump, recreational bait net and invertebrate species from the intertidal zone recreational hoop net. Recreational use of any throughout Victoria is prohibited. Use of a bait equipment not included in this definition is pump with a barrel diameter not exceeding 85 mm prohibited in all Victorian public waters. The is permitted. maximum permitted dimensions of dip nets, bait
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
11 Fishing by Indigenous Australians predominate along the rest of the southern shore of the inlet (Harrison et al., 1990; DNRE, 1998). The only types of fishing activities currently defined under the provisions of the Act and the Seagrass beds occur in parts of Anderson Inlet and Regulations are commercial fishing, recreational are thought to provide important habitat, feeding fishing and aquaculture. Access to Victorian and nursery grounds for a range of aquatic biota, waters for each of these types of fishing requires a including fish species. licence (although some categories of recreational Key objectives and strategies for protection of fishers are exempt from this requirement), and is biodiversity in and around Anderson Inlet are subject to a range of licence conditions and/or described in the Inverloch Foreshore Reserve and regulations. Anderson Inlet Management Plan (DNRE, 1998) Customary fishing practices by Indigenous and in relevant sections of the Cape Liptrap Australians are not currently identified as a Coastal Park Management Plan (Parks Victoria, distinct type of fishing activity under Victorian 2003). fisheries legislation, and non-commercial fishing by Indigenous Australians is therefore treated as Foreshore Use and Management recreational fishing. The foreshores of Anderson Inlet are subject to a variety of recreational and commercial uses and The Act does, however, provide for the issue of activities. The Inverloch foreshore from Point permits to facilitate the taking of fish for specified Norman to the mouth of Screw Creek is the most Indigenous cultural ceremonies or events. intensively used area in the inlet for shore-based recreational activities, including walking, Fishery Co-management swimming, picnics, fishing, snorkelling and nature Arrangements appreciation. Elsewhere shore-based recreational activities tend to be concentrated around boating The co-management of fisheries within Victoria is access points, such as Mahers Landing, Tarwin a process involving three groups. The first Lower and Fishermans Jetty (Venus Bay). comprises the peak bodies, including VRFish. Several fishing platforms and a boardwalk permit The second group comprises the Fisheries Co- access to the southern bank of the Tarwin River at Management Council (FCC) and its technical Tarwin Lower, and to sections of Screw Creek east based committees. of Inverloch. The Tarwin Lower platforms and Finally, the third group is the government boardwalk were originally constructed by a local agencies, including the DPI of which Fisheries community group using materials purchased by Victoria is a division. Parks Victoria, and are in a state of disrepair due to lack of maintenance. The West Gippsland The above co-management entities will ensure that Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) has fisheries interests are appropriately acknowledged recently secured funds from the Recreational and represented during consultation processes Fishing Licence Trust Account to reconstruct and regarding decisions that may impact on the upgrade these river access facilities to support fishery. fishing access and protect the banks and riparian vegetation of the Tarwin River. Management of Non-Fisheries Much of the shoreline of the upper part of the inlet Uses/Values in and around the and the lower reaches of the Tarwin River is Inlet inaccessible for shore-based recreational purposes, either because of the presence of fringing wetlands Wildlife and Native Vegetation (salt marsh, reeds, mangroves, mud flats), or Protection because there is no public access through adjacent Anderson Inlet and surrounds are home to a private land. Land-based access to the southern diverse range of aquatic and terrestrial flora and shoreline of the inlet is available through Cape fauna, some of which has significant state, national Liptrap Coastal Park. or international conservation status. Strategic directions identified in the Victorian Significant stands of the white mangrove Avicennia Coastal Strategy (VCC, 2002) and the Gippsland marina occur at the mouth of Screw Creek and in Coastal Action Plan (GCB, 2002b) include a the intertidal zone of the southern side of the Inlet requirement that public access to coastal Crown around Griffith Point. Saltmarsh communities land will be maintained, except where the interests
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 12
of security, safety or protection of coastal resources Provision and Maintenance of Foreshore predominate. The Strategy also specifies that Boating Facilities and Boating public access to existing shore-based fishing facilities such as piers, jetties and wharves will be Navigational Aids maintained except where safety and security Installation, maintenance and management of boat issues predominate. New structures will launching facilities around Anderson Inlet is accommodate access for fishing where generally the responsibility of local government appropriate. and/or Committees of Management. Installation, maintenance and management of navigational aids Management of Recreational Boating in the inlet, and the jetties associated with the and Water Craft Inverloch and Fishermans Jetty (Venus Bay) boat Anderson Inlet (Inverloch, Venus Bay) has been ramps and including the Tarwin River Jetty, are designated as a local port which is managed by the responsibility of Gippsland Ports. Gippsland Ports in accordance with the Port The GBCAP (GCB, 2002a) identifies the Inverloch Services Act 1995 and the Port Services (Local Ports) boat ramp as being suitable for local use by boats Regulations 2004. up to about seven metres length. The GBCAP Boating activities in Anderson Inlet are regulated recognises that sand build up is a problem at this under the provisions of the Marine Act 1988, facility, but also indicates that there is little that administered by Marine Safety Victoria (MSV). can be done to prevent this build up, and that Recommendations to MSV for changes to boating there is no other location near Inverloch that regulations in places such as Anderson Inlet may would be more suitable or would have less arise through public consultation processes sedimentation problems. conducted by organisations such as local Councils The GBCAP also identifies the Fishermans Jetty or Gippsland Ports. (Venus Bay) boat ramp as being suitable for boats The Gippsland Boating Coastal Action Plan up to seven metres, and the facility is assessed as (GBCAP) (GCB, 2002a) provides direction for the being adequate to meet local demand for the time location and scale of boating use and development being. However, the boat ramp and the access on the Gippsland coast. It also provides a channels are acknowledged to be subject to framework for ensuring coordination between siltation problems that cannot be remedied at conflicting uses and users of Gippsland waters. reasonable cost. The GBCAP identifies that appropriate boating The GBCAP further identifies the boat ramp at activities for ‘coastal estuaries’ such as Anderson Tarwin Lower as being suitable for boats up to five Inlet are active non-powered (eg. sailing, sail metres, and the facility is assessed as being boarding), passive non-powered (eg canoeing, adequate to meet local demand for the time being. kayaking) and passive powered boating (eg. fishing, sightseeing). Active powered boating (eg. Management of Catchment Activities water skiing, personal water craft, fast cruising, and Their Impacts boat racing) is identified as being appropriate in The WGCMA was formed under the provisions of lakes (inland or coastal) and marine waters. the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 and the The Inverloch Foreshore Reserve and Anderson Water Act 1999 and works with regional Inlet Management Plan (DNRE, 1998) indicates community, industry and government that power boating, water skiing and personal stakeholders to coordinate the development of water craft (PWC) should be permitted in strategies for integrated management of land and designated areas of Anderson Inlet provided water resources, waterways and living natural environmental impacts of these activities and resources in West Gippsland – including Anderson conflicts with other inlet users are minimised. The Inlet and tributaries. plan specifies that the environmental impacts of The West Gippsland Regional Catchment Strategy these activities should be monitored, and that (RCS) (WGCMA, 2004a) and the West Gippsland these activities should be banned if the impacts Regional River Health Strategy (WGCMA, 2004b) cannot be controlled or other appropriate locations identify valuable land, water and living natural cannot be found. resource assets, assess the condition of and identify threats to the maintenance of these assets (including identification of knowledge gaps), and provide directions on actions required to manage
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
13 land (both public and private), water and Aquatic Pest Plant and Animal biodiversity. Management General threats to assets identified by the West Introduction of marine pests has been identified as Gippsland RCS include: a potentially threatening process under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Marine pest
• effects of inappropriate land use planning emergency arrangements known as the “Interim (including disturbance and/or exposure of acid Victorian Protocol for Managing Exotic Marine sulfate soils), on the environment, natural Organism Incursions” currently forms the basis for resource production and landscape amenity; responding to introductions and incursions of • agricultural practices leading to offsite impacts pests. and landscape changes; and Spartina (Spartina spp.) • the introduction of pest plants and animals Introduction and spread of the introduced rice and their impacts on environment and natural grass/cord grass Spartina in Victorian estuaries, resource production. and the introduction of exotic organisms to Victorian marine waters, have both been listed as Implementation of management actions in the ‘Potentially Threatening Processes’ under the West Gippsland RCS will be reliant on a number provisions of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of agencies and key stakeholders within the 1988. This Act, administered by the Department of region, including DSE, DPI, Environment Sustainability and Environment (DSE) requires Protection Authority (EPA), local government, that Action Statements be developed describing private landholders and community-based how these threats are to be addressed in Victoria. programs such as Landcare, Coast Action/Coastcare and Waterwatch. The Inverloch Foreshore Reserve and Anderson High risk threats to Anderson Inlet, the lower Inlet Management Plan (DNRE, 1998) identifies Tarwin River and other tributaries identified in the the need to develop a co-ordinated Spartina control draft West Gippsland Regional River Health program in the inlet; to monitor the small Pacific Strategy (WGCMA, 2004b) include: oyster population in the inlet; and to develop appropriate response plans in the event that other • bank erosion; pest species such as northern Pacific seastar or the • declining water quality; algae Undaria are introduced to the area.
• exotic flora (particularly Spartina); In recent years Parks Victoria, assisted by the • degraded riparian vegetation; WGCMA, has conducted a Spartina control program using herbicide and a hovercraft in • loss of in-stream habitat; selected areas of the inlet. This program has had • stock access; and limited success, but is unlikely to arrest the continued expansion of Spartina without a • reduced wetland connectivity. significant increase in resources. Management actions proposed in conjunction with Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis) various stakeholders to address these threats In December 2003, the northern Pacific seastar was include: found in small numbers at the entrance to • foreshore/bank revegetation programs; Anderson Inlet. The DSE and Parks Victoria co- • control/eradication of exotic vegetation; ordinated a response to this incursion, including a widely acclaimed community-based diving
• fence off riparian vegetation; program to search for and remove all seastars in • bank stabilisation work (rock wall) in the the area before the commencement of the lower Tarwin River; spawning season. Monitoring will continue to • improved management of flood control and determine whether the eradication program has drainage networks around Anderson Inlet; been successful.
• replacement of in-stream habitat (large woody Experience from northern Pacific seastar debris); and incursions in Port Phillip Bay and elsewhere • establish water quality monitoring programs. indicates that this species has the potential to threaten aquatic biodiversity, including fish, directly through predation on benthic eggs and
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 14
larvae, and indirectly through competition for waterfowl. Pacific oyster colonies also make food items such as molluscs, crabs and other recreational access difficult and interfere with bait marine invertebrates (CSIRO, 2000). collection activities. Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Monitoring of this population has indicated that, A population of Pacific oysters has been present to date, it has not shown any signs of further off Point Smythe for at least 20 years. incursions of other areas inside the inlet. At present, monitoring of this population is Experience from infestations of this species continuing. elsewhere indicates that it has the potential to colonise extensive areas of mudflats and may displace native aquatic invertebrates and
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
15 Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
The overall purpose of the AIFRMP is to formalise management arrangements for the Anderson Inlet The Planning Process Fisheries Reserve in accordance with the Requirements of the Fisheries Act 1995 provisions of the Act, the Ministerial guidelines The Act stipulates that a management plan must and the principles of Ecologically Sustainable be prepared for a fisheries reserve as soon as Development (ESD). possible after the Reserve has been declared under To this end, the AIFRMP specifies goals, Section 88 of the Act. objectives, strategies and actions for management Each declared management plan must:- of fishing activities in the reserve. • define the fishery or fisheries to which it The AIFRMP also identifies processes for relates; management of other non-fishing values and uses of the inlet, and opportunities for fisheries • be consistent with the objectives of the Act stakeholders to participate in these processes to and, in the case of a fisheries reserve, be ensure identification and minimisation of potential consistent with the Order in Council declaring adverse impacts on fish habitat and fisheries. the reserve; The AIFRMP contains a section describing • specify objectives for management of the research and monitoring information needed to fishery or fisheries covered by the plan; address the identified management objectives and • specify the management tools and any other performance indicators; a section outlining a measures to be used to achieve the objectives strategy for promoting compliance with fishing of the plan; controls in the inlet; and a section describing implementation and future review processes. • specify performance indicators, targets and monitoring methods for the objectives and management actions stated in the fishery Duration of the Plan management plan; The AIFRMP will provide the basis for the management of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries • as far as is known, identify critical components Reserve for a period of 10 years unless established of the ecosystem relevant to the fishery fishery monitoring and assessment programs management plan, any current or potential indicate a need for a review prior to that time. threats to those components, and existing or proposed measures to protect or maintain Review of the Management Plan these ecosystem services; and Review of the AIFRMP and preparation of a new • as far as relevant and practicable, identify any AIFRMP will commence twelve months prior to other biological, ecological, social and the schedule expiry of the AIFRMP. The review economic factors relevant to the fishery or will examine all aspects of fisheries management fisheries covered by the plan – including against the defined goals, performance indicators fishery trends and current status; the socio- and reference points, and will examine the need economic benefits of fishing and other human for new or amended objectives in light of uses of the area or resources in question; monitoring and research information obtained. measures to minimise the impact of fishing on non-target species and the environment; Should there be a need for the Minister to amend fisheries-related research needs and priorities; the AIFRMP prior to this review, notice of this and an assessment of the resources required to intention will be published in the Government implement the fisheries management plan. Gazette.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 16
The Act also indicates that each management plan focus on addressing fishing-related issues that may: matter to both visiting and resident recreational fishers and the local community. • specify the duration of the management plan; Values and issues raised during this first round of • specify procedures and/or conditions for public consultation included:- review of the plan; • Anderson Inlet is valued by anglers as being • in the case of a fisheries reserve, specify safe, accessible from Melbourne, and having guidelines regulating or restricting activities in good supporting infrastructure and services – the reserve; including reasonable access for aged and • in the case of a fisheries reserve, specify terms disabled recreational fishers; and conditions under which any special • Anderson Inlet is regarded as a preferred activities in the reserve may be permitted; and location to fish for estuary perch, Australian • include any other relevant matters. salmon, silver trevally and several other species; Additional direction on the development of the AIFRMP has been provided by the gazettal of • the boundaries of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Ministerial guidelines on 30 October 2003 (see Reserve need further clarification; Appendix 2). • a majority of anglers who responded did not Steering Committee want any new or additional restrictions on recreational fishing in Anderson Inlet; The AIFRMP was prepared by Fisheries Victoria, assisted by a steering committee comprising of an • concerns were raised about the possible independent chair and representatives from key impacts on fishing of a variety of habitat and stakeholders including the VRFish, FCC, environmental issues, including catchment WGCMA, Indigenous interests, Parks Victoria, erosion and sedimentation, aquatic pest plants Bass Coast Shire, South Gippsland Shire Council and animals, coastal erosion and sand and the DPI. movement in the inlet, de-snagging of the lower Tarwin River, and foreshore urban and The role of the steering committee was to advise tourism development; the Executive Director, Fisheries Victoria, DPI, on the preparation and consistency of the AIFRMP • concerns were raised about the adequacy of with respect to the requirements of the Act and the access to the inlet for both boat-based and Ministerial guidelines, and to respond to shore-based fishing; and community consultation on the draft AIFRMP. • competition and conflict between recreational Terms of Reference for the steering committee and fishers and other water-based users of a list of the organisations' representatives are Anderson Inlet. found in Appendix 3. Public Consultation Management Goal and Objectives The first step in the development of the AIFRMP The following broad goal and objectives apply to was to seek the views of recreational fishers and management of fishing activities in the Anderson other community interests regarding values and Inlet Fisheries Reserve: issues associated with fishing in Anderson Inlet. Goal In January 2004, a public meeting was held in To manage Anderson Inlet fish stocks, the habitats Inverloch to canvass these issues. Recreational and aquatic environment on which they depend, fishers and members of the public who were and the fisheries they support, in a manner that is unable to attend the Inverloch public meeting were sustainable and which ensures maximum social invited to provide written submissions by the end and economic benefits to all Victorians in of February 2004. accordance with ESD principles. Approximately 40 verbal and written submissions Objectives were received from this round of consultation, • Social - To maintain and where possible providing a range of views on values and issues enhance recreational fishing opportunities in associated with recreational fishing in Anderson Anderson Inlet. Inlet. This information helped to guide the drafting of the AIFRMP so that it had a strong
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
17 • Biological - To conserve and ensure • to identify the main fishing target species in sustainable use of key fish stocks in the inlet. the inlet and ensure sustainable fisheries use of these resources (Strategies 4, 5 & 6); and • Environmental - To promote protection of the habitats and environments which are essential • to identify non-fishing factors (eg boat and for production or maintenance of key fish shoreline access) that may directly affect stocks in the inlet. recreational fishing opportunities in the inlet and provide information to facilitate • Governance - To achieve maximum participation by recreational fishing interests community participation, understanding and in management process for these factors support for the management of fishing (Strategy 9). activities in the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve. Strategies for Maintenance of Fish More detailed accounts of the strategies, Habitat management actions, performance indicators and • To identify fishing and/or non-fishing factors information needed to address each of these (eg. catchment erosion/sedimentation or exotic objectives are provided in the following sections pest species) that may indirectly affect and are summarised in Table 2. recreational fishing opportunities through Performance indicators are provided for actions impacts on fish habitat or environmental that Fisheries Victoria has direct responsibility for conditions (Strategies 7 & 8); and implementing. These indicators provide a means • to ensure that concerns regarding the of tracking progress on an ongoing basis. consequences of these factors for fish habitat Performance indicators are not provided for and therefore fisheries are identified and actions that other agencies are responsible for considered in the appropriate management implementing. forums (Strategies 7 & 8).
Strategies for Recreational Fishing • To determine the nature and extent of demand for recreational fishing opportunities in Anderson Inlet, and to provide for this demand within the context of resource sustainability and other competing uses of the inlet (Strategies 1,2,3 & 9);
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 18 Recreational Fishing Opportunities
maintain or enhance recreational fishing Strategy 1 – Identify fishing values opportunities based on the results of surveys. in Anderson Inlet Apart from a limited survey (monthly daytime Strategy 2 – Maintain or enhance angler counts, on-site interviews and examination levels of satisfaction with fishing of angling club records) in the late 1980s and early opportunities 1990s (Smith, 1991), there has been no systematic Public submissions from the first phase of public monitoring of recreational fishing in Anderson consultation in January/February 2004 indicated Inlet. that: More detailed and up-to-date information is a majority of Anderson Inlet recreational needed on the demographic profile of Anderson • fishers believe that fishing in the inlet is as Inlet fishers (eg. proportion of visitors versus local good now as it has been for many years, or residents; residential origins of visitors) and on the that fishing has at least improved since the values they attach to fishing in the inlet (eg. removal of commercial fishing in 2000; preferred target species; preferred fishing methods/locations/seasons; acceptable catch rates • estuary perch is probably the highest profile for particular species). This information is needed target fish species in the inlet, but other in order to determine what constitutes a satisfying popular species include Australian salmon, recreational fishing experience in the inlet, and silver trevally, flathead, King George whiting, therefore what management actions might be mullet and black bream (in rivers and creeks); taken to maintain or enhance fishing • a majority of submissions considered new or opportunities. additional restrictions on recreational fishing in the inlet to be unnecessary, and if imposed Preliminary information obtained from verbal and would diminish recreational fishing written submissions during the first phase of opportunities; public consultation in January/February 2004 indicated that Anderson Inlet is a preferred fishing • a minority of submissions proposed that location because of: stricter size and/or catch limits for particular species (including estuary perch, bream and • its proximity to metropolitan Melbourne; Australian salmon) would reflect the special • the safety of sheltered inlet waters compared status of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve, to open coast waters; and would enhance the recreational fishing experience for these species. • reasonable fishing access for aged and disabled fishers; and Performance Indicator • A minimum of 60% of fishers satisfied with • good infrastructure and services – particularly fishing opportunities. in Inverloch – to support fishing activities. Information Requirements Performance Indicator Surveys of representative samples of Anderson • Information on profile of recreational fishing is Inlet recreational fishers are needed to provide collected from at least 200 anglers. information on the demographic profile of Actions participants and on fishing values associated with • Fisheries Victoria to seek funding to establish fishing in the inlet. These surveys need to be periodic surveys of anglers to provide conducted periodically to initially benchmark and information on fishing values. The first survey then detect any changes in levels of fishing to be conducted within the first two years satisfaction, or in fishing values that underpin following declaration of the AIFRMP and a perceptions of satisfaction. minimum of one additional survey in the The most cost effective collection of such remaining life of the AIFRMP. information is likely to be through periodic • Fisheries Victoria, in consultation with attitudinal surveys at fishing access points around recreational fishing stakeholders, to evaluate the inlet (for visiting and local non-club fishers) possible fishery management actions to and through direct survey of local fishing club members.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
19 Actions limits for estuary perch, bream (except in the • Fisheries Victoria to seek funding to establish Gippsland lakes), Australian salmon, flathead periodic surveys of anglers to provide (other than dusky flathead), King George whiting information on levels of fishing satisfaction. and sand worms were established on the basis of The first survey to be conducted within the what the majority of Victorian recreational fishers first two years following declaration of the considered to be reasonable, desirable or AIFRMP and a minimum of one additional acceptable. survey in the remaining life of the AIFRMP. More recently further requests have been made by • Where information collected during periodic recreational fishers for Statewide reviews of catch angler surveys indicates support for a review or size limits of particular species for ethical or of recreational fishery management cultural reasons. These requests will be arrangements in order to maintain or enhance considered in consultation with VRFish and the fishing opportunities and experiences, recreational fishing community during a review Fisheries Victoria will evaluate possible process to be initiated in 2006. fishery management actions in consultation In view of the above, the AIFRMP will not initially with stakeholders. contain any changes to recreational catch or size limits that are proposed for ethical or cultural Strategy 3 – Identify and encourage reasons. responsible recreational fishing Recreational fishers have also contributed to the behaviour identification of responsible fishing behaviour Many regulations applying to recreational fishing through the development of a Victorian in Victorian waters have been introduced at the Recreational Fishing Code of Conduct. This request of recreational fishers for ethical or document was released by VRFish in 2004 and cultural reasons, rather than because of an provides guidance to recreational fishers on issues identified need to protect fish stocks from such as protecting the environment, respecting the excessive fishing pressure. A number of bag limits rights of others, attending fishing gear, being have been introduced or amended to define a aware of and complying with fishing restrictions, ‘reasonable’ daily take for personal use, and some returning unwanted fish to the water, valuing fish size limits have been introduced to define caught and passing on knowledge to new fishers. minimum acceptable sizes for human Performance Indicator consumption. Regulations introduced or amended • Fishing restrictions introduced to identify and for these reasons have in nearly all cases been encourage responsible recreational fishing applied uniformly to all Victorian waters. behaviour will reflect the views/values of a Preliminary information obtained from verbal and majority of recreational fishers. written submissions during the first phase of Actions public consultation in January/February 2004 • VRFish to facilitate the distribution of the indicated that a majority of recreational fishers did Victorian Recreational Fishing Code of not wish to see any changes to existing recreational Conduct through outlets in the region, fishing regulations in Anderson Inlet. However, including through Fishcare groups, agents several submissions called for changes to catch who sell fishing licences, and fishing clubs. limits and/or size limits for particular species – Where information collected during periodic including estuary perch, bream, Australian • angler surveys (Strategy 1 & 2) indicates salmon, flathead, King George whiting, Bass support for a review of recreational fishing yabbies and sand worms – for ethical or cultural restrictions, Fisheries Victoria will consider reasons. Such reasons include defining a this information in future reviews of catch or ‘reasonable’ number of fish to take for personal size limits, within twelve months following use in a days fishing, or defining the minimum the collection of information in periodic angler size of a particular type of fish that is acceptable surveys. Such changes may apply specifically for eating purposes. to Anderson Inlet, but are more likely to apply Victorian recreational fishing catch limits were Statewide. revised in 2000 after a four year review process No changes to recreational catch or size limits for that included extensive consultation with the ethical or cultural reasons are currently proposed Victorian Recreational Fishing peak body (VRFish) for Anderson Inlet. and several rounds of public comment on proposed catch limits. Current bag/possession
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 20
Sustainable Use of Fish Resources
The Anderson Inlet recreational fishery is small by establishment of angler diary programs in co- comparison with other recreational and operation with members from local, and possibly commercial fisheries under Victorian jurisdiction. some visiting, fishing clubs. The fishery is also complex, being characterised by targeting of a variety of fish species using several Actions different fishing methods, and by substantial • Fisheries Victoria to seek funding to establish fluctuations in fish abundance that can be driven angler log book and periodic creel survey as much by habitat and environment conditions as programs to provide information on preferred by the effects of fishing. target species and catch and effort trends. The first creel survey to be conducted within the Objectives, strategies and performance indicators first two years following declaration of the for sustainable use of Anderson Inlet fish AIFRMP, and a minimum of one subsequent resources will therefore need to be achievable and creel survey in the remaining life of the cost effective given limited resources for fishery AIFRMP. monitoring, assessment and management (see • Fisheries Victoria to review adequacy of Newman et al., 2003). existing fishery management arrangements once information is available from fishery Strategy 4 – Identify key target monitoring programs. species and monitor fishery trends for these species Strategy 5 – Determine the status There has been no systematic monitoring of of key target fish stocks recreational fishing in Anderson Inlet apart from Currently, no information is available on the limited surveys in the late 1980s and early 1990s structure, productivity or status of target fish (Smith, 1991). species in Anderson Inlet. Information on reproduction, growth and recruitment patterns for More detailed and up-to-date information is each key species, together with fishery catch and needed on recreational fishing catch and effort in effort information, is essential to detect Anderson Inlet to identify key target species and fluctuations in abundance (whether driven by to establish fishery trends in the inlet. This environmental or fishing factors) and to decide information is essential to develop more specific whether or not adjustments to fishery sustainability objectives for the fishery and to management arrangements are needed to ensure provide the capacity to detect changes in the continued sustainable use. fishery that may require management responses. In small estuarine fisheries such as Anderson Inlet Performance Indicator where the resources available for fishery • Establishment of a fishery catch and effort monitoring, assessment and management are monitoring program in Anderson Inlet to limited, more detailed investigations of stock allow identification of key target species and status can only be justified for the one or two most ongoing assessment of fishery trends. important target species. Information Requirements Preliminary information obtained from recent Ongoing or periodic surveys of recreational public consultations indicates that estuary perch fishing activities in Anderson Inlet are needed to and Australian salmon are the two most popular provide time series of information on preferred recreational target species in Anderson Inlet. This target species and to detect changes in catch and assessment will be reviewed when more detailed effort trends for key species. information on targeting preferences becomes available from future fishery monitoring The most cost effective collection of such programs. information is likely to be through creel surveys at access points around the inlet (for both visiting Australian salmon are marine species that spawn and local non-club fishers) and/or through in open coastal waters and utilise bays and inlets as juvenile nursery grounds, and occasionally as feeding grounds for migrating adults. The
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
21 abundance of salmon in Anderson Inlet (and the Actions quality of salmon fishing) is therefore dependent • Fisheries Victoria to seek partnership funding as much on factors outside the inlet determining to establish ongoing and periodic fishery catch reproductive success and migration, as it is on the sampling programs and/or fishery impacts of fishing or environmental factors in the independent surveys to provide information inlet. required for assessment of estuary perch Estuary perch, however, normally spend their stocks every three years. Subject to funding, entire life cycle in estuaries such as Anderson Inlet, first survey to be conducted within first two and consequently their abundance is likely to be years following declaration of the AIFRMP, determined almost entirely by environmental and a minimum of one subsequent survey in and/or fishing factors in the inlet. Resources the remaining life of the AIFRMP. available for stock assessment in Anderson Inlet • If monitoring of estuary perch stock status in will therefore initially be focused on estuary perch. Anderson Inlet indicates a need to modify fishery management arrangements to ensure The abundance of successive year classes of sustainable catches in the inlet, then such estuary perch in Victorian estuaries is known to changes will be proposed by Fisheries Victoria. vary substantially, probably as a result of fluctuating habitat and/or environmental Strategy 6 – Protect key conditions determining the success of spawning and the survival of young fish. Regardless of the recreational fish species utilising reasons for these fluctuations in year class Anderson Inlet abundance, patterns of ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ year Although the mouth or entrance to Anderson Inlet classes can be monitored as they grow and enter has often been assumed to be a line from Point (i.e. are ‘recruited’ to) the fishery. Smythe to Point Hughes (see Figure 1), the precise Knowledge of recruitment patterns can be used to location of this boundary has never been clearly adapt fishery management arrangements so that defined for fisheries management purposes. full advantage is taken of periods of strong Commercial fishing in Anderson Inlet ceased in recruitment while avoiding excessive fishing 2000, but some recreational fishers remain pressure during periods of poor recruitment. concerned that commercial fishing for migratory Performance Indicator species such as salmon in open coastal waters -– • Establishment of recruitment monitoring particularly adjacent to the mouth of Anderson programs in Anderson Inlet to facilitate stock Inlet – may reduce migration of these species into assessment and adaptive fishery management the inlet, and thus reduce recreational fishing of key target species identified in Strategy 4. opportunities. Examination of mandatory commercial fishing Information Requirements catch and effort information provided by Based on current information available the commercial licence holders suggest it is unlikely immediate need is to establish ongoing or periodic that commercial fishing for salmon and other sampling of the estuary perch population in migratory species near the entrance to Anderson Anderson Inlet and its tributaries to provide a time Inlet has significantly impeded migration of series of information on size and age composition, salmon into the inlet in recent years. Nevertheless and thus on the relative abundance of successive it is still considered appropriate to clarify the year classes. Information is needed for pre-recruit seaward boundary of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries fish (smaller than the legal minimum size) as well Reserve by establishing a more precise definition as recruited fish to provide a capacity to predict of the mouth of the inlet. Clarifying this boundary changes in fishery conditions and plan appropriate should limit disputes between recreational fishers management responses. utilising the inlet and commercial fishers licensed Options for collection of such information include for ocean access in areas adjoining the inlet. sampling of estuary perch recreational catches It is also necessary to clarify the status of during creel surveys, recruitment of avid estuary Anderson Inlet as either inland or marine waters perch anglers to provide detailed information on in order to determine appropriate controls on both legal size and undersize perch via ‘research’ levels of recreational fishing equipment. diaries, and fishery-independent scientific surveys of perch in the inlet. In addition, implementation of strategies 4, 5 and 7 will progressively establish information to provide
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 22
for identification of priorities for management Performance Indicator actions to protect stocks of key recreational fish • The seaward boundary of the Anderson Inlet species and their supporting habitats in the inlet. Fisheries Reserve and the inland or marine This information can progressively be waters status of the inlet are clearly defined for incorporated into the management of the fisheries fisheries management purposes within the reserve by adopting an adaptive management first three years of declaration of the AIFRMP approach that regularly reviews current resource and an adaptive management approach information and develops appropriate adopted to take account of new resource management responses during the life of the plan. information established under Strategies 4, 5 The AIFRMP recognises that such an approach and 7. may require the development of interim protection Actions measures to ensure the protection of the inlets • Fisheries Victoria to undertake consultation valuable fish resources. These measures may with peak bodies and the FCC, prior to include the establishment of fisheries notices, the broader community consultation, to: establishment of permits by the Secretary of the Department and the redirection of management - formally define the seaward boundary effort. These legislative and Departmental of the fisheries reserve; and protection measures will require the seaward - formally identify the inland or marine boundary of the inlet to be clearly defined. status of the waters of Anderson Inlet. • Fisheries Victoria to develop adaptive management processes as new resource information becomes available.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
23 Maintenance of Fish Habitat
There is increasing evidence worldwide that the In 1995, Fisheries Victoria established a formal sustainable use of any fishery resource is Fish Habitat Assessment process to provide dependent not only on controlling the direct scientific information on the location and status of impacts of fishing on fish stocks, but also on key marine and estuarine fish habitats, as an input maintaining the integrity of the aquatic habitats, to the development or review of fishery environmental conditions and ecological processes management arrangements. This process involves that are crucial for the production and/or survival the participation of stakeholder representatives, of target fish species. This is particularly so in scientists and fishery managers in fish habitat inshore marine, estuarine and inland waters that assessment workshops, and the publication of are facing increasing pressures from human workshop findings in the Fisheries Victoria population growth and associated agricultural, Assessment Report Series. industrial, urban and tourism development. The The inaugural Anderson Inlet Fish Habitat need to identify and protect important fish habitat Assessment workshop was held in February 2001 has been recognised and included as an objective (Nicholson and Gunthorpe, in press). The of the Act, and in the Ministerial guidelines for the workshop identified habitat types that are development of a fisheries reserve management potentially important for key target fish species – plan for the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve. including seagrass beds, unvegetated soft bottom Effective management of fisheries includes areas, submerged woody debris (‘snags’), identification and advocacy of management intertidal mangrove areas, salt marshes and rocky actions needed to protect and where possible reefs (near the entrance). The workshop also enhance ecosystems that support production of identified potential major threats to these fish fishery resources. To do this it is necessary to habitats including introduced pest species know: (particularly Spartina), excessive sediment and nutrient inputs and associated water quality • the type, location and extent of habitat and problems, and physical disturbances from environmental conditions that are important recreational boating and foreshore development for production and/or survival of key target activities. fish species within the system; • the links between particular The workshop found that more scientific habitat/environment conditions and information on the importance of fish habitats, production/survival of stocks of key target their current status, and threats to their integrity, species; was needed to identify effective management action to maintain fish habitat within Anderson • the current status and historical trends in the Inlet. condition of these key fish habitats; and Notwithstanding this, any further loss or • the main threats (whether from fishing or deterioration of these habitats can only have a other non-fishing human activities) to the detrimental impact on the capacity of Anderson integrity of each key fish habitat. Inlet to sustain production of fish resources. Direct management action can be taken under fisheries legislation to minimise or eliminate any Strategy 7 – Identify important identified threat to fish habitat from fishing activities. However, persuading other habitat for key fishery species management agencies to ameliorate impacts or Varying amounts of information are available on threats to fish habitats from non-fishing activities the general ecological characteristics and habitat (eg. excessive nutrient/sediment inputs, requirements of fish that are key fishery target introduction of exotic pest species, foreshore species in Anderson Inlet (estuary perch, development/ modification, pollution) will require Australian salmon, silver trevally, black bream, at least some specific knowledge of the likely sand flathead and yellow-eye mullet). extent of impacts on fish habitats and therefore However, little is known of the specific habitat production of fisheries resources, and thus the associations of these species in Anderson Inlet. likely reduction in associated fishery values. Therefore identification of key fish habitats in the
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 24
inlet, and management actions needed to protect programs developed by the WGCMA provides a these habitats, is unclear. major opportunity to positively influence fish habitat outcomes in Anderson Inlet. A first step towards addressing this issue is to determine which habitats in the inlet (eg. No changes to fisheries management seagrass/algae beds, unvegetated sand/mud areas, arrangements for Anderson Inlet are proposed for mangroves, Spartina-affected areas) are being used the time being. by or are important to various life history stages of the key target fish species – particularly juvenile Strategy 8 - Engage other agencies estuary perch. Such a survey will also provide an assessment of the extent to which fish use or avoid to maintain and enhance fish Spartina habitat, and thus the consequences for habitats fisheries resource production if Spartina continues Once habitat information is identified, the to spread in the inlet. Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Reference Group Performance Indicator (page 43) will identify key projects and opportunities to maintain and enhance fish habitat • Sufficient information on fish/habitat as a part of an ongoing program of engaging other associations in Anderson Inlet is collected to agencies which have responsibility for allow identification of important habitats for management for non-fisheries impacts. key target fish species within the first twelve months of the declaration of the AIFRMP. Effects of Catchment Activities Information Requirements Known or potential effects of catchment activities on fish habitat and fish stocks in Anderson Inlet Seasonal field sampling over one year to are described in the ‘Current Management’ section determine the extent to which various life history of the AIFRMP, together with catchment and stages of key target fish species use or are waterway management responsibilities and associated with different habitats in Anderson relevant strategic management documents. Inlet. This information will help to identify habitats that are vital to the production and/or Performance Indicator survival of key fisheries resources, and thus focus • Information and advice is provided to efforts to identify management actions needed to WGCMA and other agencies. protect such habitats. Actions Action • Fisheries Victoria to provide available habitat • Fisheries Victoria to establish partnerships information and advice during the with WGCMA to seek co-funding through the development and review of the West Regional Catchment Investment Plan (RCIP) to Gippsland RCS and Regional River Health establish a habitat survey to identify important Strategy, within six months of completion of habitat for key target fish species. the research. Identification of key fish habitats in the inlet will • VRFish, on behalf of recreational fishers and provide a focus for assessment of threats to the with assistance from Fisheries Victoria, to integrity of these habitats. Direct management develop partnership arrangements with the action can be taken under fisheries legislation to WGCMA and other agencies to ensure that minimise or eliminate any identified threat to fish potential adverse impacts of catchment, land habitat from fishing activities. However, any and waterway use activities on fish habitat identified threats to fish habitats from non-fishing and fisheries in Anderson Inlet are adequately activities (eg. excessive nutrient/sediment inputs, considered in the development of programs in introduction of exotic pest species, foreshore support of these two strategies. development/ modification, pollution) will need to • Where appropriate, Fisheries Victoria to be addressed through the formation of provide policy and technical advice to partnerships with other management agencies (eg. WGCMA and other agencies to assist them to catchment management authority, water authority, identify and develop priority projects and local government and other foreshore programs to ameliorate or prevent adverse management bodies, DSE public land management impacts of catchment, land and waterway use and biodiversity protection agencies). activities on fish habitats and fisheries in Ensuring strong fisheries advocacy is provided Anderson Inlet. during the development and review of catchment and waterway management strategies and
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
25 Effects of Aquatic Pest Species For any given development proposal both the Known or potential effects of aquatic pest planning approvals and the EES process will invasions on fish habitat and fish stocks in normally include public consultation phases, Anderson Inlet are described in the ‘Current providing an opportunity for any person or group Management’ section of the AIFRMP, together to ensure that possible adverse impacts on fish with pest species management responsibilities and habitat and fish stocks, eg through exposure existing aquatic pest management or prevention and/or disturbance of AASS are identified and programs. properly assessed as part of the approvals process. Persons wishing to participate in such processes Persons or groups seeking further details of should contact the relevant Shire Council (if the existing aquatic pest management programs, or proposal is subject to local government approvals), wishing to participate in the conduct or review of or the DSE (if the proposal is subject to State such programs to seek more favourable outcomes Government approvals), or they should follow for fish habitat protection in Anderson Inlet, advertised public consultation procedures. should contact Parks Victoria or the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) for more Action information. • VRFish, with assistance from Fisheries Victoria, to engage relevant approvals Performance Indicator authorities to ensure that potential adverse • Meetings held annually between Fisheries impacts of any proposed foreshore urban or Victoria, VRFish, Parks Victoria and WGCMA tourism developments on fish habitat and with agreement on priorities for Spartina fisheries in Anderson Inlet are identified and control and support given to funding properly assessed during environment impact applications addressing these priorities. assessment processes. Action Effects of Boating and Other Water- • Fisheries Victoria and VRFish, on behalf of recreational fishers, to work with Parks based Recreational Uses Victoria and the WGCMA to identify funding Known or potential impacts of boating and other opportunities to expand the Spartina control water-based uses on fish habitat in Anderson Inlet program currently undertaken by Parks and the lower Tarwin River include bank erosion Victoria, and to identify priorities for action to from boat wakes; propeller or hull damage to protect fish habitat and angler access intertidal seagrass beds or mud flats from boating threatened by Spartina. Funding applications in very shallow waters; and hydrocarbon submitted and action plan priorities to be pollution. completed prior to annual budget processes. Responsibilities for management of boating in the Effects of Foreshore Urban and Tourism inlet (Marine Safety Victoria, Gippsland Ports, Development Parks Victoria, local Councils), provision of Proposals for residential or tourism developments navigational aids (Gippsland Ports) and protection around Anderson Inlet will be subject to local of waterways from boating impacts (WGCMA) are and/or state government planning approvals described in the ‘Current Management’ section of under the provisions of the Planning and the AIFRMP, together with relevant strategic Environment Act 1987. If the potential management documents. environmental impacts of the proposed Action development are significant then the proposal will • VRFish, with support from Fisheries Victoria be subjected to an Environment Effects Statement and other water-based recreational user (EES) process under the provisions of the groups, to engage relevant waterway Environment Effects Act 1978. authorities to ensure that adequate boating Venus Bay has been identified as one of three navigational facilities are provided in locations in Victoria containing Actual Acid Anderson Inlet and that any potential adverse Sulfate Soils (AASS) as a result of soil disturbance impacts of boating on fish habitat and fisheries and/or exposure (DPI, 2003). AASS has the in the inlet are identified and minimised. capacity to lower the pH of water and as a result, have significant impacts on the survival and/or production of fish resources.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 26
Issues Affecting Recreational Fishing Opportunities
wish to participate in management review Strategy 9 - Engage other agencies processes to ensure that fishing activities are not to maintain or improve access to unnecessarily constrained, should contact the fisheries resources appropriate authority. Facilities for Boat-based Fishing Action Responsibilities for provision and maintenance of • VRFish, on behalf of recreational fishers, to boat launching facilities (local government, engage relevant foreshore and waterway Committees of Management), and associated management authorities to ensure that jetties and navigational aids (Gippsland Ports) in fisheries interests are properly considered in Anderson Inlet are described in the ‘Current any management arrangements designed to Management’ section of the AIFRMP, together alleviate congestion from competing water- with relevant strategic management documents based activities in Anderson Inlet. and processes for funding such activities. Persons Foreshore Fishing Access and Facilities or groups seeking more information on boating Access to the foreshores of Anderson Inlet for facilities programs, or who wish to propose shore-based fishing – including the provision of improvements to boating or navigational, facilities fishing platforms – is described in the ‘Current in the inlet should contact the appropriate Management’ section of the AIFRMP, together authority. with relevant strategic management documents Action and processes for funding shore-based fishing facilities. • VRFish, and other water craft-based recreational user groups, to engage relevant Persons or groups seeking clarification on public foreshore management authorities to identify access to specific parts of the inlet for shore-based needs and seek funding to maintain or fishing should contact the relevant foreshore enhance boating access facilities in Anderson manager (local government, Committees of Inlet. Management, Parks Victoria, DSE). Persons or Competition with Other Water-based groups who wish to propose improvements to shore-based fishing facilities in the inlet (eg. new Recreational Uses or upgraded fishing platforms) should contact the As described earlier in the AIFRMP, Anderson relevant Shire Council (Bass Coast or South Inlet is becoming increasingly popular for a Gippsland) or the WGCMA for advice and variety of water-based recreational activities – assistance. including fishing - particularly during peak tourism periods. To avoid increasing congestion Action and conflict over competing shore-based and boat- • VRFish, on behalf of recreational fishers, to based activities it is necessary to consider engage relevant foreshore and waterway restricting or even prohibiting some activities in management authorities to resolve shore- some locations. based fishing access issues and to seek funding Responsibilities for management of foreshores to maintain or enhance shore fishing access (local government, Committees of Management, facilities. Parks Victoria, DSE) and water craft activities (Marine Safety Victoria, Gippsland Ports, local government, Parks Victoria) are described in the ‘Current Management’ section of the AIFRMP, together with relevant strategic documents and detailed proposals for management of competing uses in some areas. Persons or groups seeking more information on foreshore or water craft management arrangements in the inlet, or who
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
27 Table 2. Summary of objectives, strategies and actions for management of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve. Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements Social - maintain and 1. Identify fishing Fisheries Victoria to Periodic surveys of Information on profile Subject to funding, the Fisheries Victoria where possible enhance values in Anderson seek funding to anglers to provide of recreational fishing is first angler survey to be recreational fishing Inlet. establish periodic information on collected from at least conducted within the opportunities in surveys of anglers to demographics and 200 anglers. first two years following Anderson Inlet. provide information on fishing values. declaration of the fishing values. AIFRMP and a minimum of one subsequent survey
during the remaining life of the AIFRMP.
Fisheries Victoria, in Fisheries Victoria consultation with recreational fishing stakeholders, to evaluate possible fishery management actions to maintain or enhance recreational fishing opportunities based on the results of surveys.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 28
Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements 2. Maintain or enhance Fisheries Victoria to Periodic surveys of A minimum of 60% of Subject to funding the Fisheries Victoria levels of satisfaction seek funding to anglers to provide fishers satisfied with first angler survey to be with fishing establish periodic information on levels of fishing opportunities. conducted within the opportunities. surveys of anglers to fishing satisfaction. first two years following provide information on declaration of the levels of fishing AIFRMP, and a satisfaction. minimum of one subsequent survey in
the remaining life of the AIFRMP.
Fisheries Victoria Where information collected during periodic angler surveys indicates support for a review of recreational fishery management arrangements in order to maintain or enhance fishing opportunities and experiences, Fisheries Victoria will evaluate possible fishery management actions in consultation with stakeholders.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
29 Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements 3 Identify and VRFish to facilitate the VRFish encourage distribution of the
responsible Victorian Recreational
recreational fishing Fishing Code of
behaviour. Conduct through outlets in the region, including
through Fishcare groups, agents who sell fishing licences, and fishing clubs.
Fisheries Victoria Where information Fishing restrictions Within twelve months introduced to identify following the collection collected during periodic angler surveys and encourage of information in
(Strategy 1 & 2) responsible recreational periodic angler surveys. indicates support for a fishing behaviour will review of recreational reflect the views/values fishing restrictions, of a majority of Fisheries Victoria will recreational fishers. consider this information in future reviews of catch or size limits. Such changes may apply specifically to Anderson Inlet, but are more likely to apply Statewide.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 30
Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements Biological – to conserve 4. Identify key target Fisheries Victoria to Time series of catch & Establishment of a Angler diary program – Fisheries Victoria and ensure sustainable species and monitor seek funding to effort data for key fishery catch and effort ongoing, subject to use of key fish stocks in fishery trends for establish angler log species from creel monitoring program in funding; and the inlet. these species. book and periodic creel surveys and angler log Anderson Inlet to allow Creel surveys – the first survey programs to book programs. identification of key survey within two years provide information on target species and of declaring the preferred target species ongoing assessment of AIFRMP, and a and catch and effort fishery trends. minimum of one trends. subsequent survey in the remaining life of the AIFRMP.
Fisheries Victoria Fisheries Victoria to review adequacy of existing fishery management arrangements once information is available from fishery monitoring programs.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
31 Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements 5. Determine the status Fisheries Victoria to Time series of Establishment of Angler “research” diary Fisheries Victoria of key target fish seek partnership information on size/ age recruitment monitoring program – ongoing, stocks. funding to establish structure and year class programs in Anderson subject to funding; ongoing and periodic strength for estuary Inlet to facilitate stock Subject to funding, creel fishery catch sampling perch. assessment and survey catch sampling – programs and/or fishery adaptive fishery once in the first two independent surveys to management of key years following provide information target species identified declaration of the required for assessment in Strategy 4. AIFRMP, and a of estuary perch stocks. minimum of one subsequent survey in the remaining life of the AIFRMP.
Scientific surveys of Fisheries Victoria If monitoring of estuary juvenile estuary perch – perch stock status in once every 3 years, Anderson Inlet indicates subject to successful a need to modify fishery funding.
management arrangements to ensure sustainable catches in the inlet, then such changes will be proposed by Fisheries Victoria.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 32
Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements 6. Protect key Fisheries Victoria to The seaward boundary Complete within the Fisheries Victoria recreational fish undertake consultation of the Anderson Inlet first three years of species utilising with peak bodies and Fisheries Reserve and declaring the AIFRMP. Anderson Inlet. the FCC, prior to the inland or marine broader community water status of the inlet consultation, to: are clearly defined for • formally define the fisheries management seaward boundary purposes and an of the fisheries adaptive management reserve; and approach adopted to take account of new • formally identify the inland or resource information marine status of established under the waters of Strategies 4, 5 and 7. Anderson Inlet.
Fisheries Victoria to Fisheries Victoria develop adaptive management processes as new resource information becomes available.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
33 Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements Environmental – to 7. Identify important Fisheries Victoria to Seasonal sampling over Sufficient information Subject to funding, Fisheries Victoria promote protection of the habitat for key establish partnerships one year to determine on fish/habitat habitat survey project to habitats and fishery species. with WGCMA to seek habitat utilised by associations in commence within the environments which are co-funding through estuary perch and other Anderson Inlet is first 12 months after essential for production or RCIP to establish a key species. collected to allow declaring the AIFRMP. maintenance of key fish habitat survey to identification of stocks in the inlet. identify important important habitats for habitat for key target key target fish species. fish species.
8. Engage other Fisheries Victoria to Information and advice Within six months of Fisheries Victoria agencies to maintain provide available provided to WGCMA. completion of research. and enhance fish habitat information and habitats. advice during the development and review of the WGCMA RCS and Regional River Health Strategy.
VRFish, on behalf of recreational fishers and VRFish with assistance from Fisheries Victoria, to develop partnership arrangements with the WGCMA and other agencies to ensure that potential adverse impacts of catchment
land and waterway use activities on fish habitat and fisheries in Anderson Inlet are adequately considered in the development of
programs in support of these two strategies.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 34
Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements Where appropriate, Information and advice Fisheries Victoria Fisheries Victoria to provided to WGCMA provide policy and and other agencies. technical advice to
WGCMA and other agencies to assist them
to identify and develop priority projects and programs to ameliorate or prevent adverse impacts of catchment, land and waterway use activities on fish habitats and fisheries in Anderson Inlet.
Fisheries Victoria and Meetings held annually Funding applications Fisheries Victoria, VRFish, on behalf of between Fisheries submitted and action VRFish recreational fishers, to Victoria, VRFish, Parks plan priorities work with Parks Victoria and WGCMA completed prior to with agreement on annual budget Victoria and the WGCMA to identify priorities for Spartina processes.
funding opportunities to control and support expand the Spartina given to funding control program applications addressing currently undertaken by these priorities. Parks Victoria, and to identify priorities for action to protect fish habitat and angler access threatened by Spartina.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
35 Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements VRFish, with assistance VRFish from Fisheries Victoria, to engage relevant approvals authorities to ensure that potential adverse impacts of any proposed foreshore urban or tourism developments on fish habitat and fisheries in
Anderson Inlet are identified and properly assessed during environment impact assessment processes.
VRFish, with support VRFish from Fisheries Victoria
and other water-based recreational user groups, to engage relevant waterway authorities to ensure that adequate boating navigational facilities are provided in Anderson Inlet and that any potential adverse impacts of boating on fish habitat and fisheries in the inlet are identified and minimised.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 36
Objective Strategy Actions Summary of Performance Indicator Schedule Responsibility Information Requirements Social - maintain and 9. Engage other VRFish, and other water VRFish where possible enhance agencies to maintain craft-based recreational recreational fishing or improve access to user groups, to engage opportunities in fisheries resources. relevant foreshore
Anderson Inlet. management authorities to identify needs and seek funding to maintain or enhance boating access facilities in Anderson Inlet.
VRFish, on behalf of VRFish recreational fishers, to engage relevant
foreshore and waterway
management authorities
to ensure that fisheries
interests are properly
considered in any
management arrangements designed to alleviate congestion from competing water- based activities in Anderson Inlet.
VRFish, on behalf of VRFish recreational fishers, to engage relevant foreshore and waterway management authorities to resolve shore-based fishing access issues and to seek funding to maintain or enhance shore fishing access facilities.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
37 Research and Monitoring
Information provided from research and access points around the inlet (for visiting and monitoring programs is an essential component of local non-club fishers) and through direct effective management in all fisheries. survey of local fishing club members. Management of Victoria’s larger bay and inlet • Ongoing or periodic surveys of recreational fisheries is underpinned by targeted research fishing activities in Anderson Inlet to provide projects and ongoing or periodic monitoring of time series of information on preferred target fishing activities to provide information on fishery species and to detect changes in catch and trends, the status of key target fish stocks, habitats effort trends for key species. The most cost and environmental conditions important for effective collection of such information is maintenance of fisheries resources, evaluation of likely to be through creel surveys at access the effectiveness of new or altered fishery points around the inlet (for both visiting and management measures, community values local non-club fishers) and/or through associated with use of fish resources, and levels of establishment of angler diary programs in co- satisfaction with existing fishery management operation with members from local, and arrangements. possibly some visiting, fishing clubs. • Ongoing or periodic sampling of the size and Planning and Priorities age structure of the estuary perch population Apart from a long time series of commercial in Anderson Inlet and its tributaries to provide fishing catch records from 1914 to 2000, and some a time series of information on the relative limited data on recreational fishing in the late abundance of successive year classes. 1980s and early 1990s, there is no systematically Information is needed for pre-recruit fish collected information on fisheries or fish habitats (smaller than the legal minimum size) as well in the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve. as recruited fish to provide a capacity to predict changes in fishery conditions and plan The most pressing needs are therefore to appropriate management responses. Options characterise the recreational fishery in Anderson for collection of such information include Inlet; to establish programs in conjunction with sampling of estuary perch recreational catches recreational fishers to monitor fishery trends in the during creel surveys, recruitment of avid inlet and assess the status of the most important estuary perch anglers to provide detailed target species; and to identify habitat which is information on both legal size and undersize important for key target species in order to focus perch via ‘research’ diaries, and fishery- on priority fish habitat protection and maintenance independent scientific surveys of perch in the requirements. inlet. A summary of fishery and fish habitat monitoring Indicative current costs for the conduct of an and research projects proposed to address these access point survey in Anderson Inlet to obtain information requirements, together with estimated recreational fishing catch and effort and attitudinal costs and possible funding sources, is provided in information is $37,000 per annual survey. Table 3. Indicative costs for the establishment and support of an angler diary program in the inlet are $16,000 Fisheries and Fish Stocks per annum. The following information was identified as being necessary to address Strategies 1, 2, 4 and 5 of this Fish Habitat Plan: The following information was identified as being necessary to address Strategy 7 of this Plan: • Periodic surveys of representative samples of Anderson Inlet recreational fishers to provide • Seasonal field sampling over one year to information on the demographic profile of determine which habitats in the inlet (eg. participants, on values associated with fishing seagrass/algae beds, unvegetated sand/mud in the inlet, and on levels of satisfaction with areas, mangroves, Spartina-affected areas) are fishing opportunities. The most cost effective being used by or are important to various life collection of such information is likely to be history stages of the key target fish species – through periodic attitudinal surveys at fishing particularly juvenile estuary perch. Such a
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 38
survey will also provide an assessment of the Potential Funding Sources extent to which fish use or avoid Spartina To date most of the funding for Victorian bay and habitat, and thus the consequences for inlet fishery monitoring and research has been fisheries resource production if Spartina provided from the Fisheries Victoria budget, with continues to spread in the inlet. periodic contributions from the national Fisheries Indicative current costs for the Department of Research and Development Corporation. More Primary Industries contribution to the conduct of recently, revenue derived from Recreational this program is $20,000. This contribution is Fishing Licence fees provides an additional subject to the establishment of a partnership with funding option – particularly for programs such as the WGCMA as part of the RCIP. creel surveys and angler diaries where there is strong recreational fisher involvement. Funding opportunities for fish habitat assessment and protection projects may also be available through development of partnership arrangements with the WGCMA to seek funds through the RCIP.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
39 Table 3. Summary of fishery and fish habitat monitoring/research projects required to address the Management Plan objectives.
Project Project Relevant Responsibility Key partners Total Estimated Potential Funding Maximum contribution Number Strategy Cost ($) Sources by Fisheries Victoria ($)
1 Recreational fisher log book 1, 2, 4, 5 Fisheries Victoria Recreational fishers 16,000 per annum RFL Trust Account N/A program
2 Access point creel survey 1, 2, 4, 5 Fisheries Victoria Recreational fishers 37,000 per annual RFL Trust Account N/A program survey
3 Catch sampling to provide 5 Fisheries Victoria Recreational 5,000 per annum RFL Trust Account 2,500 per annum size/age structure data for key fishers, PIRVic target species. Fisheries Victoria program budget
4 Fishery-independent pre-recruit 5 Fisheries Victoria PIRVic 30,000 per survey Fisheries Victoria 15,000 surveys of estuary perch. program budget
FRDC
5 Fish/habitat association survey. 7 Fisheries Victoria WGCMA Parks 40,000 per survey Regional Catchment 20,000 Victoria, PIRVic, Investment Program local government. FRDC
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 40
Compliance with Fishing Controls
The DPI, through its Regional Fisheries staff, is Fisheries Compliance in Anderson responsible for the delivery of a range of services Inlet associated with fisheries compliance. A Unless exempt, anglers are required to hold a proportion of these services is funded directly Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) to fish the from the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust waters of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve. Account. These services range from the provision The requirement for an RFL applies to the taking of education and information services to the field or attempting to take, of any species of fish by any operations of fisheries officers involving the method. This licence also covers other activities detection of illegal fishing activities. such as bait collection, gathering shellfish, yabby For Anderson Inlet, these compliance services are fishing, prawning and spear fishing. Details of delivered as part of the DPI’s Gippsland Fisheries entitlements under this licence and other Program and Fisheries Victoria’s Recreational important information for anglers can be found in Compliance Strategy. Fisheries staff providing the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, which is these services are based at Yarram and Cowes. released on an annual basis. Fisheries Victoria recognises the need to maintain There is a high level of community expectation high standards of education and awareness that fishery resources will be maintained at programs relating to the Anderson Inlet Fisheries sustainable levels and that the aquatic habitats Reserve in keeping with the significance of the that support them will be protected. The Act and area as a fisheries reserve. Fisheries Victoria will the associated Regulations provide the legislative continue to provide such services consistent with framework to assist in the protection of fishery its Statewide education and awareness program. resources. Successful fisheries management in Victoria, therefore, depends heavily on achieving Fisheries Victoria's programs are often optimal levels of compliance with this legislation. complimented by the community education This is best achieved through a combination of activities of Fishcare Victoria. The aim of this maximising voluntary compliance and creating a Program is to foster responsible fishing practices deterrent effect. and care for aquatic environments. This program has been active in promoting ethical fishing Education and Community Awareness behaviour and respect for natural resources. Programs Enforcement There is a growing level of awareness within the The DPI’s fisheries community education and community that we can have a direct impact on awareness programs are complemented and the condition of fish resources through harvesting supported by its efforts to ensure effective activities. For some species, specific management deterrents to potential offenders through its arrangements are in place and may include catch fisheries enforcement operations targeting and size limits. It will become increasingly substantial and deliberate breaches of the important to maintain a high level of angler regulations. compliance with legislation and to encourage behaviours consistent with the continued good Land and water-based patrols by authorised health of the inlet. fisheries officers provide important opportunities for communication and engagement with active High levels of voluntary compliance require fishers, as well as discouraging illegal activities effective education and community awareness by providing a physical presence. There are programs which promote and support close and many compliance options available ranging from ongoing cooperation between fishers and warnings through to prosecutions in a court of Fisheries Victoria, a high level of community law. In the area of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries awareness and understanding about management Reserve, these services are also funded and objectives and strategies and perhaps most delivered through the DPI Fisheries Program. importantly, a sense of shared responsibility for maintaining healthy fisheries for future The DPI operates a 24-hour Statewide offence generations. reporting service. Users of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve and other waters who are
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
41 concerned about suspected illegal activities are • undertake targeted enforcement operations encouraged to report these matters on 13 FISH based on statewide priorities and resource (133474). risk to achieve fisheries objectives as defined in the AIFRMP. Actions
Fisheries compliance staff:
• provide information and promote community reporting of suspected illegal fishing activities (13 FISH);
• plan and target patrols and inspections to achieve at least 90% compliance with fishing controls; and
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 42
Management Plan Implementation
The AIFRMP describes arrangements for the Ongoing implementation of the AIFRMP will management of recreational fishing in the recently require action by DPI in conjunction with established Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve. recreational fishers, VRFish and other stakeholders to establish the required fishery monitoring and Initially, most fishery management measures in research programs, to carry out day-to-day the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve will remain management activities, and to ensure compliance unchanged while the focus is on establishing with fishery management arrangements. programs to characterise the recreational fishery; monitor fishery trends and the status of key target Key actions required to facilitate implementation species; and identify key fish habitats in the inlet. of this plan are summarised in Table 2. If information from these programs indicates a An annual progress report on implementation of need to alter fishery management arrangements in the AIFRMP will be prepared providing details of future to ensure sustainable use or to meet performance against key performance indicators. changing demands for recreational fishing For further information on this management plan, opportunities, then changes will be considered in comment on its implementation or recreational consultation with stakeholders. fishing in general, contact the Department of Any proposed changes to fisheries regulations Primary Industries Customer Service Centre may be subject to a Regulatory Impact Statement telephone 136 186 or visit the Department’s web (RIS) process under the provisions of the site at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing/. Subordinate Legislation Act 1994, which requires For further information on the activities of the extensive consultation with stakeholders. VRFish, telephone (03) 9854 6167 or visit the Key Implementation Actions VRFish web site at www.vrfish.com.au. The AIFRMP will come into effect following a Costs of Implementation declaration by the Minister via a notice in the Costs of establishing the required fishery Government Gazette and will be made available to monitoring and research programs, and potential the public through the internet and as a published funding sources, are described in Table 3 in the ‘ document. Research and Monitoring’ section of the AIFRMP. The Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Reference Costs for regulatory amendment processes and Group will be established to work with the DPI to implementation of fisheries compliance activities deliver the desired management outcomes from in the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve will be met the AIFRMP. It is proposed that the Anderson within the DPI Fisheries Program budget Inlet Fisheries Reserve Reference Group include allocation. representatives nominated by VRFish, Fisheries
Victoria, local government, Indigenous interests, WGCMA and Parks Victoria. The role of the group is to coordinate activities and projects in support of the AIFRMP actions, strategies and objectives.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
43 References
GCB (Gippsland Coastal Board) (2002a). Literature bibliography Gippsland Boating Coastal Action Plan. Published AAV (Aboriginal Affairs Victoria) (2002). by the Gippsland Coastal Board, Bairnsdale. Aboriginal Coastal Shell Middens. Fact Sheet and Site Identification Mini Poster No. 13. GCB (2002b). Integrated Coastal Planning for Gippsland – Coastal Action Plan. Published by the Anon. (1981). The ecology of fishing in Botany Gippsland Coastal Board, Bairnsdale. Bay - biology of commercially and recreationally valuable species. Environment Control Study of Gomon, M.F., Glover, J.C.M. and Kuiter, R.H. Botany Bay No. 23B. NSW State Pollution Control (Eds.) (1994). The Fishes of Australia's South Commission, Sydney. Coast. State Print, Adelaide. BCSC (2003). Inverloch Foreshore Reserve: St Harrison, I., Rogers, J., Smith, G. and Woodfull, Kilda Street to Ayre Creek Foreshore Master Plan. J. (1990). Andersons Inlet: resources, issues and Published by Bass Coast Shire Council, options for management. Master of Wonthaggi. Environmental Science Group Report. Graduate School of Environmental Science, Monash Blake, S., Roob, R. and Patterson, E. (2000). University, Clayton. Seagrass mapping of Victoria’s minor inlets. Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, Henry, G.W. and Lyle, J.M. (Eds.) (2003). The Queenscliff. Report No. 28. 52pp & appendices. National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey. Final Report on FRDC Project No. 99/158. Chapman, A., Dann, P., and Legge, D. (1987). 188pp. Published by NSW Fisheries, Cronulla. Anderson’s Inlet Waders and Waterbirds. Published by the South Gippsland Conservation Hutchins, B. and Swainston, R. (1986). Sea Fishes Society, Inverloch. of Southern Australia. Swainston Publishing, Perth. CSIRO (2000). Northern Pacific Seastar (Asterias amurensis). Marine Pest Information Sheet. CSIRO James, G.D. (1976). Eggs and larvae of the Centre for Research on Introduced Marine Pests, trevally, Caranx georgianus (Teleostei: Carangidae). Hobart. N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res., 10: 301-310. DCNR (1994). Inverloch Foreshore Reserve and James, G.D. (1978). Trevally and koheru - biology Anderson Inlet: Proposed Management Plan. and fisheries. In. 'Proceedings of the Pelagic Victorian Department of Conservation and Fisheries Conference, July 1977'. M.A.F., Fisheries Natural Resources, Yarram Region. Research Division. Occasional Publication No. 15, pp 50-54. DNRE (1998). Inverloch Foreshore Reserve and Anderson Inlet Management Plan. Published by James, G.D. (1984). Trevally, Caranx georgianus the Department of Natural resources and Cuvier: age determination, population biology, Environment, Victoria. and the fishery. New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Fisheries Research DPI (2003). Acid sulfate soil hazard maps – Bulletin No. 25. 51 pp. Guidelines for coastal Victoria. CLPR Research Report Number 12. 30pp. Jenkins, G.P. and May, H.M.A. (1994). Variation in settlement and larval duration of King George Fletcher, W.J., Chesson, J., Fisher, M., Sainsbury, whiting, Sillaginodes punctata (Sillaginidae), in K.J., Hundloe, T., Smith, A.D.M. and Whitworth, Swan Bay, Victoria, Australia. Bull. Mar. Sci. 54: B. (2002). National ESD reporting framework for 281-296. Australian Fisheries: The ‘How To’ guide for wild capture fisheries. Final Report for FRDC Project Jenkins, G.P., Black, K.P. and Hamer, P.A. (2000). 2000/145. Fisheries Research and Development Determination of spawning areas and larval Corporation, Canberra. advection pathways for King George whiting in southeastern Australia using otolith microstructure and hydrodynamic modelling. I. Victoria. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 199: 231-242.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 44
Jones, G.K., Hall, A., Hill, K.L. and Staniford, A.J. McKay, R.J. (1992). FAO species catalogue. Vol. (1990). The South Australian marine scalefish 14. Sillaginid fishes of the world. (Family fishery: stock assessment, economics and Sillaginidae). An annotated and illustrated management. S.A. Dept. of Fisheries, Green Paper. catalogue of the sillago, smelt or Indo-Pacific 186 pp. whiting species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 14. 87pp, 137 figs. Kailola, P.J., Williams, M.J., Stewart, P.C., Reichelt, R.E., McNee, A. and Grieve, C. (eds.) Newman, S.J., Gaugan, D.J., Jackson, G., Mackie, (1993). Australian Fisheries Resources. Bureau of M.C., Molony, B., St John, J. and Kailola, P. (Eds.) Resource Sciences, DPIE, and the Fisheries (2003). Towards sustainability of data-limited Research and Development Corporation, multi-sector fisheries. Australian Society for Fish Canberra. 422 pp. Biology Workshop Proceedings, Bunbury, Western Australia 23-24 September 2001. Fisheries Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. and Talbot, F.H. (1983). Occasional Publications No. 5, June 2003, Fishes of Tasmania. Tasmanian Fisheries Department of Fisheries, Perth, Western Australia. Development Authority, Hobart. 563 pp. 186pp. Lenanton, R.C.J. (1977). Aspects of the ecology of Nicholson, G. and Gunthorpe, L. (Eds) (in press) fish and commercial crustaceans of the Blackwood Anderson Inlet Fish Habitats 2001. Compiled by River estuary, Western Australia. Fisheries the Fish Habitat Assessment Group. Fisheries Research Bulletin, W.A., 19: 1-72. Victoria Assessment Report No. 42. 38pp. MacDonald, C.M. (1980). Population structure, (Primary Industries Research Victoria, biochemical adaptation and systematics in Queenscliff). temperate marine fishes of the genera Arripis and NREC (Natural Resources and Environment Chrysophrys (Pisces: Perciformes). Unpublished Committee), (1991). Report from a Parliamentary PhD thesis, Australian National University, Inquiry into the Allocation of fish resources in Canberra. 336 pp. Victorian bays and inlets. Government Printer, MacDonald, C.M. (1983). Population, taxonomic Melbourne. and evolutionary studies on marine fishes of the Parks Victoria (2003). Cape Liptrap Coastal Park genus Arripis (Perciformes: Arripidae). Bull. Mar. Management Plan. 37pp. Published by Parks Sci., 33: 780. Victoria, Melbourne. Massola, A. (1974). Notes on the Aborigines of the Rash, J.A.E., Williamson, R.C. and Taylor, S.J. Wonthaggi District. Victorian Naturalist, 91: 45-50. (1996). ‘How green is your mudflat?’ Proceedings McCarraher, D.B. (1986). Distribution and of the Australasian Conference on Spartina abundance of sport fish populations in selected Control. Held in Yarram, May 1995. Published by Victorian estuaries, inlets, coastal streams and the Department of Conservation and Natural lakes. 2. Gippsland Region. Arthur Rylah Resources, Yarram. Institute for Environmental Research, Technical Robertson, A.I. (1982). Population dynamics and Report Series No. 44. Published by the feeding ecology of juvenile Australian salmon Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, (Arripis trutta) in Western Port, Victoria. Aust. J. Heidelberg. Mar. Freshw. Res., 33: 369-375. McCarraher, D.B. and McKenzie, J.A. (1986). Smith, G.H. (1991). Competition for the use of Observations on the distribution, growth, fishery resources in Anderson Inlet: Balancing the spawning and diet of estuary perch (Macquaria exploitation of the aquatic living resources with colonorum) in Victorian waters. Arthur Rylah the protection of the estuarine ecosystem. Institute for Environmental Research, Technical Unpublished thesis (M. Env. Sc.), Dept. of Report Series No. 44. Published by the Geography and Environmental Science, Monash Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, University, Clayton. Heidelberg. VCC (Victorian Coastal Council) (2002). Victorian Coastal Strategy. State of Victoria. Published by the Victorian Coastal Council, Melbourne.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
45 WGCMA (West Gippsland Catchment Williams, N.J. (1970) A comparison of the two Management Authority) (2004a). West Gippsland species of the genus Percalates Ramsay and Ogilby Regional Catchment Strategy – September2004. (Percomorphi: Macquariidae), and their taxonomy. Published by the West Gippsland Catchment Chief Secretary’s Department, NSW State Fisheries Management Authority, Traralgon. Research Bulletin No.11. WGCMA, (2004b). River Health Strategy West Winstanley, R.H. (1985). Commercial fishery Gippsland Catchment – Final Draft, March 2005. situation report: Tamboon Inlet. Fisheries & Published by the West Gippsland Catchment Wildlife Service, Victoria. Marine Fisheries Report Management Authority, Traralgon. No. 7. 27 pp.
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 46
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Declaration of Anderson Inlet as a Fisheries Reserve Excerpt from General Gazette G27, 3 July 2003, page 1725.
Fisheries Act 1995 FISHERIES (DECLARATION OF ANDERSON INLET FISHERIES RESERVE) ORDER 2003 The Governor in Council makes the following Order:
Objective 1. The objective of this Order is to declare Anderson Inlet as a Fisheries Reserve and to specify its purpose. Authorising Provision 2. This Order is made under section 88 of the Fisheries Act 1995. Commencement 3. This Order comes into operation on the day on which it is published in the Victoria Government Gazette. Declaration of Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve 4. The area described in the Schedule is declared to be the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve. Purposes of the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve 5. The purpose of the Anderson Inlet Fishery Reserve is primarily to: • provide for enhanced fishing activities for recreational fishers; • to improve the management of monitoring of these enhanced harvesting opportunities; and • to improve the management and monitoring of any other issues that are likely to impact on these enhanced harvesting opportunities; • to enable the development of a fisheries reserve management plan which will: • specify guidelines regulating or restricting equipment and activities in the fisheries reserve; • provide for the issue of permits by the Secretary in respect of activities in the fisheries reserve; and • establish a compliance strategy framework for the Reserve.
SCHEDULE 6. All that area of marine underwater terrain and superjacent water that is within an area consisting of the estuary and the Tarwin River below the Tarwin Lower Road Bridge (but not including the area of Cape Liptrap Coastal Park between high and low water mark).
Dated 1 July 2003 Responsible Minister: BOB CAMERON Minister for Agriculture
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
47 Appendix 2 - Ministerial Guidelines for Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Excerpt from General Gazette G44, 30 October 2003, page 1725.
Fisheries Act 1995 SECTION 30 Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan Ministerial Guidelines
1. The Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan will identify key actions to protect habitats and enhance recreational fishing opportunities, including actions designed to improve the management and monitoring of recreational fishing and the impact of other issues (eg. habitat deterioration) on recreational fishing opportunities. 2. The Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan will specify appropriate management controls with regard to recreational fishing and may recommend options to assist in managing related activities. 3. The Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan will provide for the issue of permits by the Secretary in respect of activities in the fisheries reserve. 4. The Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan may specify areas available for any special use zones identified within the reserve. 5. The Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan will determine processes for reporting to the Victorian community on achievements of the plan. 6. The Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan will establish a compliance strategy framework.
Dated 6 October 2003
Responsible Minister: BOB CAMERON MP Minister for Agriculture
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan 48
Appendix 3 - Management Plan Steering Committee Terms of Reference The Terms of Reference for the Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan steering committee are to: • Provide advice to Fisheries Victoria in regard to achieving the stated objectives of the Fisheries Reserve during the preparation of the draft Plan. - Fisheries Victoria will prepare the draft Plan. • Consider public submissions relating to the draft Plan received during the period for the notice of intention to declare the Plan. - Fisheries Victoria will collate the submissions and prepare a draft response to the steering committee. • Provide advice to Fisheries Victoria in regard to preparing the final Plan. - Fisheries Victoria will prepare the final Plan. Membership of the Steering Committee
NAME ORGANISATION Mr Noel Maud (Chair) Independent Mr Max Fletcher VRFish Gippsland Delegate Mr Lance Lloyd Member, Fisheries Co-management Council (FCC) Mr Corrie Banks Chair, FCC Recreational Marine Fisheries Committee Mr Rob Douthat Cultural Officer, Central Gippsland Aboriginal Health & Housing Co- operative Ltd. Mr Geoff Hocking CEO, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Mr Brian Martin Parks Victoria, West Gippsland Mr Danny Luna Director Corporate Services, Bass Coast Shire Cr. Kieran Kennedy South Gippsland Shire Council Mr Greg Hayes Manager Recreational Fisheries, Fisheries Victoria, DPI Mr Dick Brumley Gippsland Fisheries Management Officer, Fisheries Victoria, DPI
Anderson Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan
49