Current consultation

Draft Fisheries (Portland Bay Commercial Fishery) Notice 2025

The VFA is seeking feedback on the draft Fisheries (Portland Bay Commercial Fishery) Notice 2025.

The Fisheries (Portland Bay Commercial Fishery) Notice 2025 [PDF File - 312.0 KB] proposes the management, development and use of the fisheries resources around Portland in an efficient and effective manner, enabling sharing of the resource between all marine users by:

1. prohibiting the use of mesh nets, trawl nets and seine nets in specified waters of Portland Bay;
2. restricting the use of longlines in specified waters of Portland Bay;
3. prohibiting the take of yellowtail kingfish in specified waters of Portland Bay by Ocean Fishery Access Licence holders and Trawl (Inshore) Fishery Access Licence holders.

How to make a submission:

Please provide any comments regarding the draft Fisheries Notice to the VFA via email haveyoursay@vfa.vic.gov.au.

Closing date for submissions: 13 November 2025.

17 October 2025 to 13 November 2025

The VFA is seeking feedback on the draft Fisheries (Corner Inlet Cockle) Notice 2025

The draft Fisheries Notice will maintain the reduction in bag and possession limit for cockles (Anadara and Katelysia species) from 5 litres (or, if shucked, 1 litre) to 2 litres (or, if shucked, 0.5 litre).

How to make a submission:

Please provide any comments regarding the draft Fisheries Notice to Stephen Beever, Fishery Manager via email steve.beever@vfa.vic.gov.au

Closing date for submissions: 4 November 2025.

The VFA is seeking feedback on the draft Trawl (Inshore) Fisheries Notice 2025/26.

The draft Fisheries Notice proposes to maintain the arrangements implemented in 2024, for the taking and possession of octopus as a bycatch species for the Trawl (Inshore) Fishery.

How to make a submission:

Please provide any comments regarding the draft Fisheries Notice to Candice Harwood, Fishery Manager via email  candice.harwood@vfa.vic.gov.au

Closing date for submissions: 31 October 2025.

The VFA is seeking feedback on the draft Fisheries (Ocean Access Vessel Monitoring) Notice 2025/2026.

The draft Fisheries Notice proposes to maintain the arrangements implemented in 2024, to continue to prohibit the use of a boat under an Ocean Fishery Access Licence (OFAL) unless it has a vessel monitoring system installed and operating.

How to make a submission:

Please provide any comments regarding the draft Fisheries Notice to Candice Harwood, Fishery Manager via email  candice.harwood@vfa.vic.gov.au

Closing date for submissions: 31 October 2025.

The VFA is seeking feedback on the draft Further Quota Order (FQO) and draft Fisheries (Banded Morwong) Notice 2026.

The draft FQO proposes to maintain the Total Allowable Commercial Catch for Banded Morwong at its current level 2,044 fish for the season commencing 1 January 2026 ending 31 December 2026

The draft Fisheries Notice proposes to maintain the arrangements implemented in 2025, to continue to reduce the closed season to two months (March-April) rather than three (February-April).

How to make a submission:

Please provide any comments regarding the draft FQO and draft Fisheries Notice to Candice Harwood, Fishery Manager via email candice.harwood@vfa.vic.gov.au

Closing date for submissions: 31 October 2025.