June 28, 2021
For more information, visit the Agriculture Victoria website or call 136 186.
On the 4th of May, wild abalone off the coast of Cape Nelson tested positive for a disease called Abalone Virus Ganglioneuritis (AVG). This prompted a response from Agriculture Victoria and the Victorian Fisheries Authority to declare a control area in the south west. Since then, the restrictions to the area have been updated following surveys, testing and surveillance.
Agriculture Victoria Update | 25 June 2021
Effective from Saturday 26 June, a reduced Control Area is now in place from the western tip of Bridgewater Bay to Cape Sir William Grant. The Control Area was reduced after thorough dive surveys, testing and surveillance confirmed the disease was localised to those areas.
Discovery Bay and from Cape Grant through to Narrawong (including Portland) are now not included in the Control Area, and reopened to fishing, diving, snorkelling and boating.
The six reef codes where wild abalone have tested positive are: Horseshoe, Outer Nelson, Inside Nelson Murrels, Jones’ Bay and Devil’s Kitchen. AVG was also confirmed at an onshore processing facility in the south-west.
What’s allowed
- Fishing for tuna is allowed without a weighted sinker inside the Control Area. You can chase tuna offshore from Portland with a weighted line once you leave the Control Area
- Taking your boat out from the Portland boat ramp as long as you don’t anchor or use any weighted fishing equipment in the Control Area
- Swimming, surfing, paddle boarding or walking in the Control Area
- Cleaning your boat with a high-pressure sprayer and detergent after a day on the water
What’s not allowed
- Taking of abalone and other shellfish
- Use of weighted commercial fishing equipment, commercial abalone equipment, recreation hoop nets, bait traps, hauling nets
- Practice of both commercial and recreational diving for abalone
- Taking of rock lobster, all shellfish, sea urchins and any of the substrate or sea floor
- Movement of any abalone or shellfish out of the control area unless the movement is in accordance with a permit issued by an inspector
- Snorkelling and diving
