Publications and resources

The following publications are available to provide information about fishing activities, education programs, legislation and current events.

Recreational Fishing Guide

The Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide is a handy resource that outlines all your rights and responsibilities to help you fish sustainably.

Fishery Status reports

Reports outlining the status of Victoria's fishery resources. Contains details on recent changes in management arrangements, research and compliance activities.

Fisheries status reports

Value of recreational water: Rocklands Reservoir 2023-24

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) commissioned the report alongside Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (GWMWater) and Wimmera Southern Mallee Development to assess the impact of record fish stocking and facility improvements at Rocklands Reservoir.

View the full report here.

Victorian fishing analytics report

In 2018, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) commissioned Red Fox Research Group to develop, conduct and analyse a survey of Victorian fishing licence holders regarding the number of recreational fishing licence sales, participation rates and public awareness of the Target One Million Program.

Victorian fishing analytics report

Ernst & Young Recreational Fishing and Boating Reports 2020

In June 2019, Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) and Better Boating Victoria (BBV), engaged Ernst & Young to estimate the participation in and economic value of recreational fishing and boating in Victoria.

Three reports were produced; one for recreational fishing, one for recreational boating and another incorporating both fishing and boating.

To download full copies of the three reports, please click below:

Survey of recreational fishing licence holders

In 2018, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) commissioned Australian Survey Research Group (ASR) to develop, conduct and analyse a survey of Victorian fishing licence holders regarding recreational fishing in Victoria.

This report presents the results of the survey conducted in March and April 2018. The survey focused on Victorian fishing licence holders living in Victoria.

Licence survey results report - October 2018
(WORD - 1.8 MB)

Licence survey results report - October 2018 (PDF - 1.4 MB)

Protocols for translocation

The Guidelines for the Translocation of Aquatic Organisms in Victoria deals with proposals for the deliberate movement of aquatic organisms into and within inland water bodies of Victoria

Fish Stocking reports

The annual Vic Fish Stock report documents the upcoming years native and salmonid stockings.

Management Plans

Management Plans are created in accordance with the Fisheries Act 1995. Their purpose is to specify policies and strategies for the management of a specific fishery.

Research reports

The department invests in Fisheries research to assist in continually improving management practices and techniques. Specific Research reports can be viewed.

Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Advisory Committee meeting summaries

Members of the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Advisory Committee (RFLTAC) are appointed by the Minister Responsible for Fisheries.

The role of the committee is to provide advice to the Minister on the expenditure of all Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account funds.

The committee assesses and provides advice on applications for grants received under the Recreational Fishing Grants Program.

Minutes from the quarterly meetings can be accessed here.

Legislation

All Fisheries Acts, regulations and notices are available from the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary documents.

Victorian Fisheries Act 2016

Fisheries Act 1995

Fisheries Regulations 2009

Fisheries (Fees, Royalties and Levies) Regulations 2017

Commonwealth and Victorian agreement

The below documents are agreements signed by the Commonwealth and Victoria in 1997 with respect to the fisheries in waters relevant to Victoria:

Offshore Constitutional Settlement
Memorandum of Understanding