Objective 2- Sustainably Manage Fisheries Resources

Goulburn-Broken Fishery Management Plan 2011

Strategy 8: Sustainably manage key fishing species

Identifying regional research priorities

Various agencies including this department, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Goulburn-Murray Water and universities undertake fisheries-related research in the Goulburn-Broken region. Research in recent years has addressed questions related but not limited to:

• Recreational fishing in upper Goulburn River
• Fish populations and water quality in the Goulburn River and Broken Creek
• The impact of turbidity and re-snagging on fish communities in the Broken River and flow reversal in the Broken and Boosey creeks
• Use of fish passageways in the Broken River and Broken Creek
• Impacts of fire on vegetation, carbon and fish populations
• Habitat complexity in the Goulburn River.

The results of this work contribute to a complementary and valuable knowledge-base that can assist in understanding catchment-wide management issues. Fisheries Victoria will take a lead role to review relevant research in order to:

• Identify knowledge gaps to better inform future research priorities and partnerships relevant to fisheries
• Promote access to the information for partners, key stakeholders and interested parties.

It is suggested that future research activities address the following areas:

• Understanding socio-economic issues including the economic value of recreational fishing to communities in the Goulburn-Broken region
• Understanding trends in catch and effort and the break-point where anglers cease to fish an area
• Understanding the population dynamics of stocked and wild fish including the contribution of stocking to reproduction
• Determining the biomass capacity of water systems in which stocking programs exist or are proposed
• Develop strategies to increase the value of fisheries assets.

Fisheries Victoria encourages the development of partnerships that foster research efficiency, address knowledge gaps and assist fisheries managers in answering key management questions and filling knowledge gaps. This will be done in a way that is consistent with the National Primary Industries Research Development and Extension Framework (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2010).

Actions

Document available, habitat, socio-economic and other research relevant to fisheries in the Goulburn-Broken region

Develop in consultation with key stakeholders a priority-based fisheries research program for the Goulburn-Broken region

Recreational fishing surveys

Reliable information on the abundance, size composition and stock structure of fish populations, the fishing effort being exerted on them and the environmental impacts on fish is needed to help guide fisheries management decisions. Recreational fishing surveys will be used to collect information on trout in the Goulburn and Howqua rivers and Murray cod, golden perch and trout in Lake Eildon. The appropriate survey method will be determined by the specific management questions, the type of data required and available resources.

Actions

Seek Recreational Fishing Licenses Trust Account funding to continue the research diary angler program for trout in the Goulburn River

Seek Recreational Fishing Licenses Trust Account funding to undertake a recreational fishing survey for trout, Murray cod and golden perch in Lake Eildon

Strategy 9: Protect endangered fish species

Fish species and communities can become at-risk from habitat changes caused by drought, natural disaster, water management practices and other environmental or human factors. Securing the future of these species and communities depends on the development and implementation of effective management and conservation measures.

Fisheries Victoria supports the conservation of protected species and the habitats on which they depend and will continue to: facilitate the survival of protected species by authorising biomass reduction, fish salvage and translocation activities conducted in accordance with relevant government policies; and work with other agencies to establish or rebuild populations of endangered species where the long-term strategy is to develop new fisheries.

This commitment has been demonstrated through:

• Expanding the native fish and salmonid production capabilities at Snobs Creek facility and the proposal under this fishery management plan to undertake ongoing Macquarie perch and trout cod breeding and stocking programs 
• Murray cod and Macquarie perch stock enhancement programs in several waterways in northern Victoria
• Stocking trout cod into Lake Sambell and Lake Kerferd for the purpose of establishing a recreational fishery
• Authorising the translocation of populations of barred galaxia, Murray hardyhead and freshwater catfish from drought-affected waterways to temporary habitat.

Actions

Utilise appropriate management activities in the Goulburn-Broken region for the purpose of protecting threatened fish species

Stock threatened species for the purpose of re-establishing viable fish populations and creating new recreational fishing opportunities