Current consultation

Victorian Western Zone Abalone fishery

2025/2026 Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC)

The Victorian Fisheries Authority is seeking feedback on the draft further abalone quota orders (FAQO) and Fisheries (Western Abalone Zone) Notice for 2025/26.

These documents outline the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for Blacklip Abalone and Greenlip Abalone in the Western Abalone Zone for the 2025/26 season which begins on 1 July 2025 and ends 30 June 2026.

Consultation on the draft FAQOs and FNs will be for a period of 16 days following publication.

The following documents are provided for feedback;

• Draft Western Zone FAQO [MS Word Document - 57.1 KB]
• Draft Western Zone Fisheries Notice [MS Word Document - 65.2 KB]
• Western Zone Harvest Strategy [PDF File - 848.6 KB]
• Western Zone Reef Report Cards [PDF File - 1.2 MB]

How to make a submission:

Please provide any comments regarding the draft FAQO and Fisheries Notice in writing to Anthony McGrath, Abalone Fishery Manager, at Level 19, 1 Spring St Melbourne 3000 or anthony.mcgrath@vfa.vic.gov.au

Closing date for submissions: Sunday 15 June 2025.

30 May 2025 to 17 June 2025

Sea Urchin Fishery

The VFA is seeking feedback on the draft Further Quota Order (FQO) and draft Fisheries (Black Sea Urchin Recreational Catch Limit and Commercial Operator) Notice 2025.

The draft FQO [PDF File - 64.3 KB] proposes to maintain the Total Allowable Commercial Catch for white urchin at its current level of 60 tonnes in Port Phillip Bay and 57 tonnes in the Eastern Zone for the season commencing 1 July 2025 ending 30 June 2026.

The draft Fisheries Notice [PDF File - 245.6 KB] proposes to maintain the arrangements implemented in 2024 to increase the number of operators on a sea urchin licence by allowing the engagement of up to 8 operators on a licence, and to remove the recreational bag limit of black sea urchin from 1 July ending 30 June.

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: Thursday 12 June 2025.

21 May 2025 to 12 June 2025