DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan West Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series - No. 56 Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan No. 56 July 2008 West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan July 2008 Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series No. 56 West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan Published by Department of Primary Industries Preferred way to cite this publication: Fisheries Victoria, Department of Primary Industries (2008). West PO Box 4440 Gippsland Fishery Management Plan 2008. Melbourne Victoria 3001. Fisheries Victoria Management Report Series No. 56 © The State of Victoria, 2008. Copies are also available from the website at This publication is copyright. No part may be <www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing>. produced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Follow the links – Managing Fisheries, Reproduction and the making available of this Management Plans and Strategies. material for personal, in-house, or non- Acknowledgement commercial purposes is authorised on the Fisheries Victoria acknowledges the traditional condition that: owners of West Gippsland Victoria and their • the copyright is acknowledged as the owner ongoing relationship with the region. • no official connection is claimed Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you, but • the material is made available without charge the State of Victoria and its employees do not or cost guarantee that the publication is without flaw or • the material is not subject to inaccurate, is wholly appropriate for your particular misleading or derogatory comment. purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for an error, loss or other consequence which may Requests to reproduce or communicate this arise from you relying on any information in this material in any way not permitted by this licence publication. (or by the fair dealing provisions of the Copyright Act 1968) should be directed to the Nominated This management plan cannot be used in a court Officer Copyright, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne, of law. Fishing laws change from time to time. It 3001. is your responsibility to ensure that you are acting within the law. If you are in doubt seek Authorised by Victorian Government, independent legal advice. 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. For further information on this management plan ISSN: 1448-1639 or on recreational fishing in general, contact the ISBN: 978-1-74199-894-8 (print) Department of Primary Industries Customer ISBN: 978-1-74199-905-1 (PDF) Service Centre by telephone on 136 186 or visit the department’s web site at Cover Images: <www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing/>. Main photo: Macalister River © Marc Ainsworth 2008. For further information on the activities of the Inset photos: brown trout (top) © Marc Ainsworth Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body 2008 and scenic (bottom). (VRFish) 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. West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan ii Table of Contents Executive summary ................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 2 West Gippsland Region.................................................................................................................................................. 2 Key asset groups.............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Commercial fishing......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Biology and ecological requirements of key native and introduced recreational fishery species........................ 8 Key native recreational fishery species ........................................................................................................................ 8 Key introduced recreational fishery species.............................................................................................................. 10 Other uses of the West Gippsland Region ................................................................................................................. 11 Current management arrangements ....................................................................13 Legislative framework.................................................................................................................................................. 13 Policy framework .......................................................................................................................................................... 15 Policy implementation tools ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Aboriginal stewardship................................................................................................................................................ 17 Current controls on fishing .......................................................................................................................................... 17 Management of non-fisheries issues........................................................................................................................... 18 Preparation of the West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan ....................25 Steering committee........................................................................................................................................................ 25 Planning process............................................................................................................................................................ 25 Public consultation........................................................................................................................................................ 25 West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan ......................................................26 Scope of plan.................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Requirements of the Fisheries Act 1995 ....................................................................................................................... 26 Definition of the fishery................................................................................................................................................ 26 Duration of the plan...................................................................................................................................................... 26 Review of the plan......................................................................................................................................................... 26 Implementation of the plan.......................................................................................................................................... 27 The West Gippsland Fishery Reference Group......................................................................................................... 27 Costs of implementation............................................................................................................................................... 27 Management goal and objectives ................................................................................................................................ 27 Identification and prioritisation of strategies ............................................................................................................ 28 West Gippsland Fishery Management Plan iii Sustainable use of fishery resources ................................................................... 29 Strategy 1 – Monitor catch rates and size composition of key recreational target fish species ...........................29 Strategy 2 - Monitor catch composition and trends for other fishery species........................................................31 Recreational fishing opportunities...................................................................... 32 Strategy 3 – Classify waters within the West Gippsland Fishery............................................................................32 Strategy 4 – Maintain stock-enhanced salmonid fisheries in the West Gippsland Region..................................32 Strategy 5 – Provide new fishing opportunities in the West Gippsland Region...................................................33 Strategy 6 – Support the establishment of the Go Fishing in Victoria initiative at Hyland Lake .......................33 Strategy 7 – Identify and encourage responsible recreational fishing behaviour .................................................34 Maintenance of fish habitat .................................................................................. 35 Strategy 8 – Identify habitat requirements of key recreational target species .......................................................37 Strategy 9 – Work with other agencies to promote protection of important fish habitats...................................38 Issues affecting recreational