January 17, 2024
There’s funding available through the Victorian Fisheries Authority if you have an idea to make fishing better in your local area. Maybe you’d like to see lighting installed at your local jetty, or fish cleaning tables installed at your local boat ramp, or in-stream habitat installed in your favourite waterway. If that’s the case, consider applying for one of the grants below.
If your club or association requires any assistance or support with your applications from VRFish, contact VRFish on [email protected]
RECREATIONAL FISHING GRANTS PROGRAM
Every year, the Victorian Fisheries Authority calls for applications for projects to be funded via the recreational fishing grants program that will improve recreational fishing in Victoria. The recreational fishing grants program disburses recreational fishing licence (RFL) revenue that is held in the RFL Trust Account.
We encourage our fishing club and association members to consider applying for the grants program if they have any ideas for potential projects to improve fishing in their local area.
The Recreational Fishing Grants Program (RFGP) consists of four different types of grants, including:
- Small Grants Program that is continually open to fund small projects (for projects up to $5,000 – GST Exclusive).
- Intermediate Grants Program that is continually open to applications from angling clubs and associations and not-for-profit community groups (for projects from $5,000 – $50,000 GST Exclusive).
- Large Grants Program (for projects from $50,001 to $100,000 – GST Exclusive).
- Commissioning Program for large priority projects (generally in excess of $100,000).
Some projects that could be funded through the program include:
- Installing solar lighting at your local jetty
- Installing fish cleaning tables at your local boat ramp
- Upgrades to make your local jetty all-abilities accessible
- Improving access to a publicly accessible fishing spot
- Installing in-stream habitat in your local waterway
- Riparian works including fencing, planting or stiles
- Recreational fishing related education, information and training
- Recreational fisheries research
- Community events such as fishing club promotion days, come-and-try fishing days, or Gone Fishing Day events
- Promotion of participation in fishing, such as increasing female or children’s participation in fishing
If your club or association requires any assistance or support with your applications from VRFish, contact VRFish directly on [email protected] or on 03 5221 1104.
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR RFL LARGE GRANTS PROGRAM
The 2023-24 round of the Recreational Fishing Large Grants Program is open for applications until the 29th February 2024. The Small and Intermediate Grants are available year-round.
Grants of up to $100,000 (GST exclusive) will be provided for projects such as the installation or upgrade of fishing platforms and jetties, fish cleaning tables, access paths, as well as works to restore or improve instream habitat and riparian habitat.
The Large Grants program is currently open for applications until 29 February 2024.
For more information, and to access the online application form, visit the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s website here.
For further information or to discuss potential applications with the Victorian Fisheries Authority please contact:
The Secretariat, Recreational Fishing Grants Program
(03) 8392 6872 | [email protected]
FISH HABITAT IMPROVEMENT FUND
In 2022, the Victorian Government committed $2.5 million to improve fish habitat across Victoria’s marine, estuarine and freshwater fisheries as part of its Go Fishing Victoria plan.
There are two streams as part of the Fish Habitat Improvement Fund:
Stream 1: Empowering recreational fishers to improve local fish habitat (community led projects up to $50,000 and up to 18 months in duration).
These projects will deliver small-scale works to improve local fish habitat works alongside waterways such as native vegetation planting, weed control, erosion control, fencing (to keep livestock out) on public or private land. This stream will help recreational fishers get involved, build capacity and establish partnerships with other fish habitat partners and land managers.
Stream 1 grants opened on 25 October 2023 and remain open until the funding is allocated.
Stream 2: Partnerships to address critical fish habitat priorities: working together to restore, recover and rebuild fish populations (up to $200,000 over 2 years).
This stream will deliver larger-scale projects involving multiple partners and strong co-investment to restore, recover fish habitat and contribute to rebuilding fish populations. Applicants for this stream will require advanced project management capacity, leadership and connections with recreational fishers and other relevant stakeholders.
Stream 2 grants opened on 25 October 2023 and close at 6pm on 1 March 2024. Subsequent rounds will be announced.
For further information, contact the Victorian Fisheries Authority on: [email protected] or call Andrew Briggs from the Victorian Fisheries Authority on 0427 018 406.
For local advice on your project idea, you can contact your local Catchment Management Authority or Melbourne Water.
