{"id":1494,"date":"2018-09-16T15:16:47","date_gmt":"2018-09-16T04:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vrfish.com.au\/?p=1494"},"modified":"2019-07-12T12:23:18","modified_gmt":"2019-07-12T01:23:18","slug":"vrfish-election-policy-released","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vrfish.com.au\/2018\/09\/16\/vrfish-election-policy-released\/","title":{"rendered":"VRFish State Election Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>VRFish, the peak body for recreational fishing in Victoria has launched an 8 point plan to <strong><em>make fishing better<\/em> <\/strong>in the lead up to the Victorian State Election in November.<\/p>\n<p>The plan was prepared from brainstorming sessions involving our membership and a &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/vrfish.com.au\/2018\/03\/15\/lets-make-fishing-better-for-everyone\/\">How Can We Make Fishing Better&#8217; survey<\/a> of nearly 1900 fishers.<\/p>\n<p>VRFish will continue to discuss with all State political parties in the lead up to the election to ensure the needs and aspirations of recreational fishers are strongly represented.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. RESTORE FISH HABITAT &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><em>Making Fishing Better Through Better Habitat<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Invest $30 million into a habitat fund for on-ground fish habitat action benefiting our marine, estuarine and freshwater fisheries, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Living shellfish reefs, riparian vegetation, in-stream habitat, water quality improvements, fish passage barrier removal, fish screens and pumps, and;<\/li>\n<li>Building capacity of our recreational fishing sector to lead, and participate in, fish habitat activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>2. FIX OUR BOAT RAMPS &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><em>Boating infrastructure governance and funding reforms<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>100% return of recreational boating registration and license fees to a Trust Account to build, maintain and improve Victoria\u2019s recreational boating infrastructure.<\/li>\n<li>Establish one single expertise-based agency to oversee, build and maintain our boating infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>3. SAVE OUR GIPPSLAND LAKES &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><em>Fish Recovery Plan for Gippsland Lakes<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Implement a formal fishery recovery plan for Victoria\u2019s iconic Gippsland Lakes Fishery including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A fair and respectful compulsory buy-out of all 10 Gippsland Lakes Fishery Access Licenses;<\/li>\n<li>A review of recreational fishing bag and size limits for black bream;<\/li>\n<li>A plan to address factors suppressing the natural recruitment of black bream,\u00a0including habitat improvement and mitigating saline intrusion, and implement a restocking program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>4. SUPPORT A STRONGER VOICE FOR ALL FISHERS &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><em>Recognising Fishing Industry Peak Bodies<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognise Victoria\u2019s fishing peak bodies in providing a single and independent voice of the fishing sector to Government.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>5. MORE FISH, AND BETTER FISHING &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><em>Growing New Fishing Opportunities<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Build a purpose-built native fish hatchery in northern Victoria to boost our freshwater fisheries stocking program, recovery of our threatened fish species and support any future National Carp Control Program.<\/li>\n<li>Investigate the feasibility for a marine and estuarine fish hatchery to supply prawns, black bream, estuary perch, Australian bass, mulloway and flathead.<\/li>\n<li>$10 million to restart Victoria\u2019s purpose-built artificial reef program and expansion of the coastal Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) network.<\/li>\n<li>Maintain current fish stocking rates and continue to develop new recreational fisheries (i.e. Lake Bellfield, Pykes Creek Reservoir and Upper Stoney Creek Reservoir).<\/li>\n<li>Support a VRFish fishing access program to protect access to our fishing locations, gain access to closed areas and address conflict.<\/li>\n<li>Allow on-water access to Tullaroop Reservoir by electric motored vessels, canoes and kayaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>6. INVEST IN OUR SECTOR &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><em>Enhancing Our Recreational Fishing Trust Account<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Match dollar for dollar recreational fisher license fee contribution to the Recreational Fishing Trust Account.<\/li>\n<li>Review the allocation of funds from the Recreational Fishing Trust Account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>7. EMPOWER RECREATIONAL FISHERS &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><em>Investing in Our People, Our Sector<\/em><\/p>\n<p>$4 million over 4 years for the recreational fishing sector to coordinate and deliver:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Community and school education programs;<\/li>\n<li>Extension and adoption programs to improve best practice and fish welfare, and;<\/li>\n<li>Leadership and training initiatives to build capacity within our sector to meet current and future challenges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>8. PLAN FOR OUR FISHING FUTURE &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><em>Responsible Fisheries Management<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Return to co-management fishery principles<\/li>\n<li>Create a 10-year Blueprint plan for Victoria\u2019s fisheries including\u00a0science, management, policy and enforcement needs and\u00a0capabilities.<\/li>\n<li>Fisheries Regulation 2009 review formally involving peak bodies to\u00a0achieve simpler rules, less red tape and support the sustainability and optimisation of Victoria\u2019s fishery resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Published 14 June 2018<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VRFish, the peak body for recreational fishing in Victoria has launched an 8 point plan to make fishing better in the lead up to the Victorian State Election in November. 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