Central Victorian recreational abalone fishing dates for 2015/16
02 November 2015
Fisheries Victoria has announced the nominated days on which recreational divers can take abalone from central Victorian waters during the 2015/16 season.
The open days for central Victorian waters for 2015-2016 are:
- Every Saturday and Sunday between 16 November 2015 and 30 April 2016, inclusive;
- Every declared Victorian public holiday between 16 November 2015 and 30 April 2016; and
- 25 December 2015 through to 10 January 2016, inclusive.
Fisheries Victoria Executive Director, Travis Dowling, said there would be 62 open days this season, mostly on weekends and public holidays, including 18 consecutive days from Christmas into the New Year.
"Central Victorian waters lie between the mouth of the Aire River and the most north-western part of Arch Rock (near Cape Liptrap) and include Port Phillip and Western Port," Mr Dowling said.
The daily recreational bag limit in Victoria is five abalone of which no more than two can be greenlip.
Greenlip abalone cannot be taken at any time in Port Phillip.
Divers are reminded they can only take abalone between sunrise and sunset and must use a blunt instrument with rounded edges to harvest them.
Divers must also carry a measuring device when in the water and use it to measure each abalone to ensure it is at least the minimum size before removing it from the sea bottom.
Taking abalone from the intertidal zone (waters less than two metres deep) is prohibited along the entire Victorian coast.
Mr Dowling said abalone season details are printed on free water-resistant pocket cards to help divers better plan their trips.
"Yellow plastic abalone measuring devices are also available," Mr Dowling said.
"Both products are produced using funds collected from the sale of recreational fishing licences and are available free of charge by calling the Customer Service Centre on 136 186."
To learn more about abalone fishing rules visit www.vic.gov.au/fisheries or download the free 'Vic Fishing' app for smartphones.