Table 2 - Summary of Objectives

Back to the Mallacoota Inlet Fisheries Reserve Management Plan

Table 2. Summary of objectives, strategies and actions for management of the Mallacoota Inlet Fisheries Reserve.

Objective Strategy Actions Summary of information requirement Performance indicator Schedule Responsibility
Social – maintain or enhance recreational fishing opportunities. 1. Monitor fishing values or preferences in Mallacoota Inlet. Fisheries Victoria to establish periodic surveys of anglers to provide information on fishing values or preferences. Periodic surveys of anglers to provide up to date information on fishing values or preferences. Information on profile of recreational fishing collected from at least 200 anglers per survey. Subject to funding, first angler survey to be conducted within the first two years following declaration of the MIFRMP and a minimum of one additional survey in the remaining life of the MIFRMP. Fisheries Victoria
   Fisheries Victoria, in consultation with recreational fishing stakeholders, to evaluate possible fishery management actions to maintain or enhance recreational fishing opportunities based on the results of surveys.     Fisheries Victoria
  2. Maintain or enhance levels of satisfaction with fishing opportunities. 2. Maintain or enhance levels of satisfaction with fishing opportunities. 2. Maintain or enhance levels of satisfaction with fishing opportunities. Fisheries Victoria to establish periodic surveys of anglers to provide information on levels of fishing satisfaction. Periodic surveys of anglers to provide up to date information on levels of fishing satisfaction. A minimum of 60% of fishers satisfied with fishing opportunities. Subject to funding, first angler survey to be conducted within the first two years following declaration of MIFRMP and a minimum of one additional survey in the remaining life of the MIFRMP. Fisheries Victoria
   Where information collected during periodic angler surveys indicates support for a review of recreational fishery arrangements in order to maintain or enhance fishing opportunities and experiences, Fisheries Victoria will evaluate possible fishery management actions with stakeholders.     Fisheries Victoria
  3. Identify and encourage responsible recreational fishing behaviour. VRFish to facilitate the distribution of the Victorian Recreational Fishing Code of Conduct through appropriate outlets in the region, including (where available) through Fishcare groups, agents who sell recreational fishing licences, fishingdependent tourism businesses and fishing clubs.     VRFish
   Where information collected during periodic angler surveys (Strategies 1&2) indicates support for a review of recreational fishing controls, Fisheries Victoria will consider this information in future reviews of fishery management arrangements in consultation with stakeholders. Any changes made to recreational fishing controls for cultural or ethical reasons may apply specifically to Mallacoota Inlet, but are more likely to apply statewide.   Fishing restrictions introduced to identify and encourage responsible recreational fishing behaviour will reflect views/values of a majority of recreational fishers. Review of fishing controls to occur within twelve months following the collection of information indicating the need for a review. Fisheries Victoria
   Information obtained from Mallacoota Inlet regarding dusky flathead catch and size limits to be considered in the recreational catch and size limit review process to be initiated in 2006.    To be considered in broader catch/size limits review scheduled for 2006. Fisheries Victoria
Biological – sustainable use of key fish resources 4. Assess the status of black bream and dusky flathead stocks and ensure sustainable fishing Fisheries Victoria to obtain recreational fishery catch/effort data and size/age composition data for black bream and dusky flathead from periodic creel surveys of Mallacoota Inlet. Time series of information on catch/effort trends, size/age structure and year class strength for black bream and dusky flathead. Establishment of cost effective scientific programs in Mallacoota Inlet to monitor recreational fishery trends and determine patterns of recruitment of black bream and dusky flathead to the fisheries. Periodic angler creel survey - subject to funding, first survey to be conducted within two years following the declaration of the MIFRMP and a minimum of one additional survey in the remaining life of the MIFRMP. Fisheries Victoria
   Fisheries Victoria to maintain or expand the black bream and dusky flathead general angler diary program in Mallacoota Inlet.    General angler diary programs – ongoing subject to funding. Fisheries Victoria
   Fisheries Victoria to maintain or expand the black bream research angler diary program in Mallacoota Inlet, and to investigate the feasibility of recruiting research anglers to provide information on the abundance of both pre-recruit and adult dusky flathead in the inlet.    Research angler diary programs – ongoing, subject to funding. Fisheries Victoria
   Where information collected during creel surveys or angler diary programs indicates a need to review recreational fishery management arrangements in order to ensure the impacts of fishing are sustainable, Fisheries Victoria will evaluate possible fishery management actions in consultation with stakeholders.   Establishment of agreed recruitment-related reference points that trigger review and adjustment of 'adaptive' fishery management arrangements to ensure continued sustainability.   Fisheries Victoria
  5. Monitor catch composition and trends for other fishery species Fisheries Victoria through recreational creel surveys and or general angler diary programs to provide information on catch composition and catch and effort trends. Time series of recreational fishery catch and effort data from periodic angler creel surveys, and or the general angler diary program. Maintenance of commercial bait catch and effort data collection, and establishment of a costeffective recreational fishing data collection program in Mallacoota Inlet to determine species composition of catches and allow ongoing assessment of fishery trends. Periodic angler creel surveys – subject to funding, first survey to be conducted within two years following declaration of the MIFRMP and a minimum of one additional survey in the remaining life of the MIFRMP. Fisheries Victoria
   Fisheries Victoria to continue monitoring of commercial bait catches in Mallacoota Inlet via the existing commercial fishery catch/effort monitoring program. Time series of commercial bait fishing catch and effort from existing commercial catch/effort monitoring.   Commercial bait fishery catch/effort monitoring program – ongoing. Fisheries Victoria
   If information from these monitoring programs indicate changing fishery trends, Fisheries Victoria, in conjunction with stakeholders, to assess the need for further investigation and or to review the adequacy of existing fishery management arrangements.     Fisheries Victoria
Environmental – Identify and promote protection of key fish habitats 6. Identify important habitat for key fishery species Fisheries Victoria to review existing literature regarding habitat and environmental conditions required to sustain the production (spawning, recruitment, survival, growth and movement) of black bream and dusky flathead. Information on capture locations and diet of adult dusky flathead from recreational fishery monitoring and catch sampling programs. The collection of sufficient information on fish/habitat associations in Mallacoota Inlet to allow identification of important habitats for dusky flathead.   Fisheries Victoria
   Fisheries Victoria to seek partnership funding to establish a fish habitat survey to identify important habitat for dusky flathead. Habitat associations and diet of juvenile dusky flathead from fishery independent habitat survey of Mallacoota Inlet.   Subject to funding, the one-off fisheryindependent habitat survey project to commence within 2 years of the declaration of the MIFRMP. Fisheries Victoria
  7. Work with other agencies to promote protection of important fish habitats Fisheries Victoria to provide available information and advice on fisheries values and important fish habitats during the development and review of the East Gippsland Regional Catchment Strategy and Regional River Health Strategy.   Information and advice provided to the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. Advice on important fish habitats in Mallacoota Inlet provided within six months of completion of fish habitat survey project. Fisheries Victoria
   VRFish, on behalf of recreational fishers and with assistance from Fisheries Victoria, to develop partnership arrangements with the EGCMA and other agencies to ensure that potential adverse impacts of catchment, land and waterway use activities on fish habitat and fisheries in Mallacoota Inlet are adequately considered in the development of programs in support of these two strategies.     VRFish
   Where appropriate, Fisheries Victoria to provide policy and technical advice to EGCMA and other agencies to assist them to identify and develop priority projects and programs to ameliorate or prevent adverse impacts of catchment, land and waterway use activities on fish habitats and fisheries in Mallacoota Inlet.   Information and advice provided to the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and other agencies.   Fisheries Victoria
   VRFish, with support from Fisheries Victoria and other water-based recreational user groups, to engage relevant waterway authorities to ensure that adequate boating and navigational facilities are provided in Mallacoota Inlet and that any potential adverse impacts of boating on fish habitat and fisheries in the inlet are identified and minimised     VRFish
   Fisheries Victoria to seek formal recognition as a referral agency for proposals seeking to artificially open any of Victoria's estuary entrances.    Referral status to be sort within twelve months of the declaration of the MIFRMP. Fisheries Victoria
   Fisheries Victoria to work with relevant management authorities and VRFish to ensure that fisheries interests are properly considered in any decision regarding artificial entrance openings.     Fisheries Victoria
Social – maintain or enhance recreational fishing opportunities. 8. Work with other agencies to maintain or improve fishing access and facilities. VRFish, representing recreational interests to work with relevant authorities and recreational user groups in the development or review of planning documents, to ensure recreational fishing needs are considered.     VRFish
   Subject to planning approvals, management plans, strategies and policies, VRFish, and other watercraft based recreational user groups, to identify needs and seek funding to maintain or enhance access and facilities for boat-based recreational fishing in Mallacoota Inlet.     VRFish
   VRFish, on behalf of recreational fishers, to work with relevant foreshore and waterway management agencies to ensure that fisheries interests are properly considered in the development or review of any management arrangements designed to accommodate multiple competing water-based and shore-based activities in Mallacoota Inlet.     VRFish
   VRFish, on behalf of recreational fishers, to work with relevant foreshore and waterway management authorities to resolve shore-based fishing access issues and to seek funding to maintain or enhance shore-based fishing access facilities.     VRFish