New plan to manage Victorian eels
01 September 2017
The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has today unveiled the state's new Victorian Eel Fishery Management Plan that will ensure the fishery remains productive and sustainable for future generations to enjoy.
VFA CEO Travis Dowling said the plan will ensure the fishery remains viable, profitable and sustainable for all users of the resource.
"The new plan sets out management objectives for the fishery over the next five years in accordance with the requirements of the Fisheries Act 1995," Mr Dowling said.
The key outcomes of the Management Plan include;
- Develop transparent and fair criteria for assessing applications to commercially fish currently unfished waters;
- Investigate developing a harvest strategy for the state's short and long finned eel fisheries;
- Review the regulations on commercial eel fishing;
- Work with industry to help it recover from exceptional circumstances such as drought;
- Continue to close at least 30 per cent of all connected rivers, creeks and streams with a common mouth opening to the sea to commercial fishing to ensure continued recruitment and sustainability;
- Improve stakeholder engagement including with indigenous Victorians and improve the recognitions of eels as an important resource;
- No changes to recreational fishing access to the eel resource will be made.
Mr Dowling said the plan was prepared in consultation with a stakeholder-based steering committee comprised of representatives from the commercial, recreational and indigenous fishing sectors.
"The implementation of these strategies will occur in partnership with all relevant stakeholders including land and water managers within government."
"Victoria has some of the best eel fishing available in Australia and it's vital we continue to look after this important fishery by ensuring it remains sustainable."
A full copy of the plan is available on the VFA website at www.vfa.vic.gov.au
Contact Monique Leane, on monique.leane@vfa.vic.gov.au or (03) 8392 6877, for more information.