Fish-e-Facts 370

01 June 2015

June 2015

Abalone thieves convicted and fined

A Korumburra magistrate has told two abalone thieves they only dodged jail because of their guilty pleas, before fining them a total of $12,500.

The men, aged 60 from Foster and 36 from Doncaster East, were seen taking abalone from Chicken Rock, in Waratah Bay, in December last year.

The court heard plain-clothes Fisheries Officers watched them as they rode bikes to Chicken Rock. Where they dived and took approximately 17 abalone, before removing the meats from the shells on the reef beside the water.

They began riding back towards Waratah Bay and were approached by officers, but did a U-turn and rode off at speed when asked to stop. They hid one bag of abalone, the bikes and two wetsuits in the bush. A second bag of abalone was thrown into the water. After several hours hiding the men returned on foot to their car, but were later intercepted by Police before Fisheries Officers arrived and arrested them.

Both men pleaded guilty to obstruction of Fisheries Officers, failing to obey a direction to stop a vehicle, taking more than twice the abalone catch limit and shucking abalone.

The Foster man, who had prior fisheries convictions, was convicted and fined $8,000 with costs. The other man was fined $4,500 with costs. All property was ordered forfeited and to be disposed of. Learn more about abalone catch limits.

Plastic fishing licenses coming soon!

Anglers who buy a 1 or 3-year recreational fishing licence online will receive a plastic licence in the mail under new arrangements to be introduced later this year.

Licenses bought over the counter at tackle shops and other retailers will remain paper-based.

The new plastic licences will be more durable and better suited to the long term demands of moisture prone environments such as tackle boxes and aboard vessels.

A commencement date for the new arrangements will be announced in the months ahead.

Once implemented, anglers can expect their plastic licence to arrive in the mail within seven days of purchase, with an emailed equivalent to provide short term licence coverage for anglers wetting a line immediately.

The cost of producing and posting new plastic licences to anglers will be included in the current online purchase price, which is $24.50 for 1 year and $66 for 3 years.

Online sales of fishing licences have been growing each year and around 40% are now bought this way, including via smartphones.

All revenue from the sale of recreational fishing licences will continue to be placed in a Trust Account to fund projects that improve fishing opportunities such as stocking, fish habitat improvement and better access and facilities.

Better access at Lake Boga

Anglers now have better access to Lake Boga, near Swan Hill, thanks to a new 30m jetty alongside the concrete boat ramp at Jacaranda Crescent.

The project had been managed by the Swan Hill Rural City Council with funding from the State Government.

The new jetty provides boat-based anglers with a safe platform from which to board vessels and a convenient spot to tie up while launching and retrieving.

A dedicated fishing platform at the end of the jetty (pictured) provides good access to deeper water.

Lake Boga is stocked annually with golden perch and Murray cod, using fishing licence fees, and also contains a self-sustaining population of redfin.

Improving fishing opportunities and facilities is a key component of the State Government's 'Target One Million' plan, which aims to grow participation to one million anglers by 2020, boost fish stocking from three to five million per year and strengthen angling club membership.

If you have a suggestion about how to improve fishing access and facilities, email it to improving.fishing@vfa.vic.gov.au

Fishcare's "Weigh Your Catch" estuary perch ruler

Fishcare has just released a new 'Weigh Your Catch' ruler product that allows recreational anglers to estimate the weight and age of estuary perch based purely on their length.

Designed to promote best practice handling and perfect for sticking to the side of a boat, the rulers allow anglers to minimise handling, returning unwanted fish to the water as quickly as possible. They also reduce the use of scales that hang fish vertically, which can cause injury to their mouths and internal organs, giving released fish a much better chance at survival. Coupled with the use of fish-friendly tackle such as knotless nets and circle hooks all recreational anglers can improve their fish handling methods for the benefit of our fisheries.

Targeting estuary perch is becoming more popular for many recreational anglers, a trend that is sure to continue with Fisheries Victoria currently developing stocked estuary perch populations in inland lakes such as Albert Park Lake, Devilbend and Melton Reservoirs.

The rulers were funded through the Recreational Fishing Licence small grants program and will be available free of charge at selected tackle stores, the Melbourne Boat Show, June 12-15, and the National 4 x 4 Outdoors, Fishing, Camping and Boating Expo, 21 – 23 August.

Fishcare is a state-wide community based organisation that promotes responsible and sustainable attitudes and practices amongst recreational anglers and the wider community.

Retail outlets or angling clubs wishing to obtain the rulers can contact Dave Cleeland by email at dcleeland@fishcare.org.au