F i s h e r i e s V i c t o r i a FFiisshh--FFaaxx 'A fortnightly round-up of recreational fisheries management issues.' Issue 59, 7 March 2002 www.nre.vic.gov.au ISSN 1443-0606 Australian Bass Released into Lake Glenmaggie On 5th March, the Minister for Energy and Resources, Candy Broad, liberated 12,450 Australian bass fingerlings into Lake Glenmaggie, near Heyfield. This is the first time that Lake Glenmaggie has been stocked with Australian bass. These fish are the result of a co-operative effort between the Heyfield Angling Club, the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute (MAFRI) and Shearwater Aquaculture, a private aquaculture firm based at Phillip Island. Parent fish were sourced from the Mitchell and Tambo Rivers to ensure that the offspring did not compromise the genetic integrity of existing bass populations in the Gippsland catchment. Funds from the Recreational Fishing Licence contributed to the purchase of these bass fingerlings. It is anticipated that other bass stocking trials will commence in selected Gippsland waters, such as Blue Rock Reservoir, in future years when higher numbers of bass fingerlings become available. Trial Trout Stocking of the Goulburn River At the recent NRE Fish Management Consultation meeting in the North East agreement was reached that NRE would not stock the Goulburn River with trout on the basis that all the available scientific evidence suggested that natural recruitment was sufficient to maintain the fishery. MAFRI research indicates that there are as many small brown trout in the Goulburn River now as there have been for any of the last 5 years. Furthermore, their studies indicate that the river’s brown trout population is indeed ‘self-sustaining’ with regular natural recruitment from mature fish. Based on this advice, Fisheries Victoria has not supported the stocking of brown trout on top of this ‘wild’ population. In part, this position has been in response to anglers who have indicated that they want the upper Goulburn to be a tailrace fishery for ‘wild’ trout. Not withstanding this, the meeting also determined that Futurefish should be allowed to undertake a trial stocking of brown trout fingerlings in the Goulburn River between Alexandra and Seymour during 2002. This was in response to continued suggestions by Futurefish that some anglers have not been observing small brown trout as they have done in previous years. No permit has been issued for this stocking at this stage. Fisheries Victoria is continuing to liaise with Futurefish on the detail of this project, but the intent is for Futurefish to pay for the release of 50,000 marked fingerlings in 2002. Fisheries Victoria and Futurefish will then jointly fund MAFRI to undertake a monitoring program to assess the contribution these fish have made to existing trout stocks in this premier angling water. Futurefish and Fisheries Victoria have agreed to meet the costs of this monitoring program on a 50:50 split for a period of between 2 and 4 years. Fish-Fax Issue 59, 7 March 2002 Fisheries Management in Victoria – Who does what? NRE’s Secretary, Chloe Munro, is actively promoting the need for the Department to engage the community as a key step in achieving improved management of our natural resources. For recreational anglers to participate effectively in these community engagement initiatives it is important they understand the roles and responsibilities of two key parts of NRE that deliver fisheries services. Regional Services Four Fisheries Managers manage teams of fisheries officers and planning staff to deliver a range of compliance, education and aquatic habitat management programs across the state. These managers are accountable to the Executive Director Regional Services via Regional Managers, who are responsible for the delivery of all of the Department’s services on the ground. Fisheries Managers are responsible for the work of regionally-based staff who: • Deliver all recreational, commercial and aquaculture fisheries compliance programs; • Provide aquatic habitat advice and advocacy services aimed at improving environmental outcomes via local and regional planning processes; • Resolve local fisheries management issues; • Consult with local and regional recreational and commercial fishing interests; • Provide access to a full range of services available from NRE. Matters to do with the provision of these services should be directed to the following Fisheries Managers: Northern Neville Fowler, Benalla 5761 1512 South West Graeme Hanel, Warrnambool 5561 9958 Port Phillip Rob Jolly, Geelong 5226 4694 Gippsland Tom Speedie, Traralgon 5172 2195 For more information contact the Customer Service Centre – ph 136 186. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Fish-Fax Issue 59, 7 March 2002 Fisheries Management in Victoria – Who does what? (cont.) Fisheries Victoria Fisheries Victoria is a division within NRE that provides policy direction and administrative services for fisheries management. It does not manage the on ground activities of Fisheries Officers, but is responsible for providing advice to government on the development and review of fisheries management policies, legislation and regulations. It’s role includes the statewide coordination of commercial, recreational and aquaculture fisheries management, licensing and fisheries, aquatic habitat research and development programs. Included in this is the work delivered by the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute (MAFRI) at Queenscliff and Snob’s Creek. Richard McLoughlin heads this division as the Executive Director, Fisheries Victoria. Within Fisheries Victoria the Recreational Fishing unit is the key focus for policy and program coordination for recreational and inland fisheries management. Matters to do with recreational and inland fisheries policy should be directed to Mr Greg Hayes, Manager Recreational Fisheries (03) 9412 5736. Murray Cod Tag Recapture For more information contact the Customer Service Centre – ph 136 186. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Fish-Fax Issue 59, 7 March 2002 In late January 2002, a tagged Murray cod was recaptured after 9 years at liberty. The female fish was originally caught, tagged and released in October 1992 in Budgee Creek, Barmah Forest, measuring 59cm and weighing 3.25kg. It was recaptured in the Murray River during the Tocumwal Fishing Competition about 10km downstream of Tocumwal measuring 100cm and weighing 14.5kg. This is some 85km upstream from where it was originally caught, tagged and released as part of a Murray Darling Basin Commission funded MAFRI project looking at the effects of flooding on fish movement and spawning behaviour. This is believed to be the longest period that a tagged Murray cod has been at liberty. Enforcement Outcomes A person from Springvale South was fined and aggregate of $500 for using/possessing commercial fishing equipment without authority and using commercial fishing equipment to take excess bream. The offences were committed near Carrum in March 2001. Two people of Boorhaman were fined $850 each for using commercial fishing equipment without authority and possessing commercial fishing equipment without authority. The offences were committed in the Ovens River in August and September 2001. Recreational Fisheries Management Section Fisheries Victoria For more information contact the Customer Service Centre – ph 136 186. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. F i s h e r i e s V i c t o r i a FFiisshh--FFaaxx 'A fortnightly round-up of recreational fisheries management issues.' Issue 60, 21 March 2002 www.nre.vic.gov.au ISSN 1443-0606 Bag/Possession Limit & Bait Species Why do bait species such as garfish and mullet have a bag/possession limit of 40 but are also shown on page 21 of the 2001-2002 Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide as a bait species which is exempted from the combined scale fish bag/possession limit? Certain defined 'bait' species (eg. mullet and garfish) have been excluded from the combined scale fish bag/possession limit because these species are often caught for use as fishing bait rather than for human consumption. This means that a person can go out and take up to 40 garfish for bait plus up to 40 mullet for bait plus up to 40 other scale fish in a days fishing (including garfish and mullet for purposes other than bait). Recreational Fishing Licences from Shell Service Stations Recreational Fishing Licences can now be purchased on-line 24 hours a day/7 days a week through Shell Touch machines located in Shell service stations in metropolitan and rural Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and ACT. Free copies of the Recreational Fishing Guide are also available at these outlets with the licences. Licences can also be purchased over-the-counter at over 950 existing outlets, and on-line through the Internet by visiting www.nre.vic.gov.au/fishing Opportunity For Anglers To Assist Carp Management South West Region Fisheries Officers are seeking any information from anglers regarding catches or sightings of carp in the Glenelg river below Rocklands Reservoir.