Fish Habitat Improvement Fund delivers
17 August 2026
Victoria’s world-class marine, estuarine and freshwater fisheries are more secure than ever after the successful roll out of the $2.5 million Fish Habitat Improvement Fund grants program.
Part of the Victorian Government’s $96m Go Fishing and Boating Plan to improve fishing, boating, piers and aquaculture, Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) CEO Travis Dowling said the habitat fund has provided a major boost for Victoria’s booming fisheries.
“Quality habitat is one of the foundations of thriving fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, and it has been fantastic to see so many exciting projects delivered across Victoria,” he said.
“Years ago, natural habitat was removed from our waterways. Thankfully, we now appreciate how important habitat is for fish protection and survivability.”
The Habitat Improvement Fund builds on a strong legacy of investment into fish habitat projects by the VFA, recreational fishers, and our partners around the state.
A snapshot of outputs for the program includes over 46 kilometres of rivers and 83 hectares of marine and estuarine habitats improved, 2,340 individual habitat structures installed, 3.5 tonnes of recycled shell intercepted from landfill, and more than 600 volunteers engaged in habitat restoration for fish.
In addition to providing habitat for iconic recreational fishing species such as Murray cod, bream and snapper, the fund also invested into some of our endangered species and ecosystems, such as Macquarie perch, the southwest river blackfish, and Port Philip Bay’s once prolific oyster reefs.
The Albert Park Yachting and Angling Club used a $200,000 grant to undertake a large-scale project to build Kayakers Reef, a structure that provides homes for shellfish. The installation of structures seeded with native oysters has led to thriving mussel and oyster populations that are recruiting naturally. The structures also attract snapper, whiting and calamari and provide a convenient, near-shore reef for the growing number of kayak and small boat fishers enjoying the Port Phillip fishery.
Across the bay in Mornington, OzFish Unlimited created a 400 m² shellfish reef by constructing and deploying robust oyster baskets (ROBs) filled with recycled, cured and washed shells. This reef is boosting habitat, improving water quality and biodiversity while providing recreational fishers with a hotspot for snapper, calamari, and King George whiting.
In Port Phillip near the Jawbone Marine Park off Williamstown, The Nature Conservancy has restored golden kelp and micro algae forests – one of the bay’s most important marine ecosystems. 120,000 kelplings (juvenile kelp) have been restored in the bay, providing food and shelter for marine life and improving water quality.
Further inland, the Australian Trout Foundation and North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) partnered to improve river health and clearwater habitats for trout and Macquarie perch along the Ovens River as part of its Bridging Waters project.
Meanwhile, up in the Northwest, the Mallee CMA and the First People of the Millewa Mallee Aboriginal Corporation partnered up to address carp and habitat issues in Sandilong Creek near Mildura. The project saw more than 140kg of carp being eradicated from the waterway, with custom mesh screens also installed to help prevent carp from reentering the creek.
In a further boost to the environment, many habitat projects make use of recycled or re-used materials such as oyster and mussel shells from restaurants and timber salvaged from storm damage or roadworks.
Learn more at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/fishhabitatfund